In her 2020 State of the Union address, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new legislative proposal to create a European Health Data Space. Its aim is to make electronic health data accessible in order to support healthcare delivery, health research, innovation, effective policymaking and regulation, and personalised medicine. This European Policy Analysis examines the Commission’s proposal and its implications for patients, healthcare providers, market actors and national administrations.
The analysis shows that the Commission’s Proposal has significant potential benefits for a wide range of stakeholders. However, concerns still remain regarding aspects such as the empowerment of individuals in relation to their data, adjustments that will need to be made by the healthcare sector, incentives for innovation, and trust in EU governance. At the time of writing, the European Parliament and the Council have adopted their negotiating positions. However, a number of changes are likely to be introduced before the Commission’s Proposal is agreed and can be implemented in the Member States.