Commenting on the position taken by the EP today, Sara Cerdas, the S&D negotiator for the regulation, explains that “the European Health Data Space will ensure the interoperability of electronic health records and the monitoring of patients, wherever they are”.
The European Parliament expressed on Dec. 13th its support for the creation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS), which aims to facilitate the exchange and access to health data in the European Union (EU) while ensuring patient confidentiality.
In plenary, MEPs approved, with 516 votes in favour, 95 against and 20 abstentions, the report that will support the EP’s negotiation in the talks with the European Council on the final document.
“The law should give patients the right to access their personal health data in the different EU systems (the so-called primary use) and allow professionals to access the information strictly necessary for a given treatment. It would be possible to access patients’ health summaries, electronic prescriptions, imaging reports and laboratory results”, is said in a press release issued after the vote during the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.
Commenting on the EP’s position, Sara Cerdas, the S&D negotiator for the regulation, explains that “the European Health Data Space will ensure the interoperability of electronic health records and patient monitoring, wherever they are”.
“For example, in the case of a citizen residing abroad, upon arrival at the hospital in Portugal, health professionals will have access to their electronic health record, allowing a more efficient and appropriate response to their needs,” continues the socialist, quoted in a press release.
According to the public health doctor, “data privacy and security are priorities”, so the “proposal ensures that citizens are in full control over their data and who has access to it”.
On 6 December, the European Council approved the mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on the legislative proposal on the European Health Data Space (EHDS).
The Shared Services of the Ministry of Health (SPMS), as a specialist in the Public Health Working Group, contributed “actively to consolidate the national position in the discussion of the proposal”, says the SPMS, which participated in more than two dozen meetings, “analysing and discussing the proposals presented between the Member States, with a view to ensuring the rights of citizens regarding their health data”.