In March 2024, the European Parliament and Member States reached a political agreement on the proposed European Health Data Space, opening the way to a new framework for the digital transformation of healthcare across the European Union.

The objective is to make electronic health information easier for citizens to access and control, while allowing healthcare professionals to use relevant patient data more effectively, including when care is provided across national borders.

The initiative also creates a wider framework for the secondary use of health data for research, innovation, public-health purposes and policymaking.

Why this matters for patients

The European Health Data Space is designed to make health data more portable. A patient receiving treatment in another Member State should increasingly be able to make relevant electronic health information available to healthcare professionals in a usable European format.

This is especially important for prescriptions, medical histories and continuity of care when citizens travel, work or live in another EU country.

Telemedicine enters the cross-border health framework

Telemedicine can extend access to care, particularly in remote regions and for patients who face geographical or mobility barriers. But its effectiveness depends increasingly on the ability of healthcare professionals to exchange reliable, interoperable electronic health information.

The emerging EU framework therefore connects digital healthcare, electronic health records and cross-border services much more closely than before.