Shared health data to improve EU-wide medical treatment

The EPP Group wants health data to be shared more effectively across the European Union so citizens benefit from better-informed medical treatment while in other Member States. “With these new rules, we are entering a new digital health era. Europeans will finally be able to access and share their electronic health data securely with any chosen health professional, even in other Member States," said Tomislav Sokol MEP, the Parliament’s Chief negotiator, before the plenary vote on creating a European Health Data Space on Wednesday.

“From now on, if you become ill during your vacation, in Spain or Portugal, for example, local doctors will see your medical history in their language, right on their computer screens. This will enable them to prescribe suitable medication based on your health record, preventing any allergic reactions and potentially saving lives," Sokol added.

“The European Health Data Space is a reliable, trustworthy and efficient leap forward in healthcare and research. It means European health citizenship," said Javier Zarzalejos MEP, the EPP Group’s negotiator in the Civil Liberties Committee.

The new rules will also ensure better diagnosis and treatment outcomes, reduce medical errors, and avoid unnecessary tests.

“By making it possible for data to be responsibly shared across Member States, we will contribute to a deeper understanding of diseases and boost the development of new medicines and medical devices," Sokol concluded.