Data dividend: how big tech will empower Europe's healthcare systems

Digitalisation and data sharing are set to empower European healthcare systems and the medical sector. Smart Health examines how this e-revolution is enabling healthcare companies to improve their products and offer better services. 

Huge amounts of medical data are generated across Europe every day. But much of this information isn’t maximised to its full potential. The European Health Data Space (EHDS), launched in May this year by the European Commission, seeks to change that, by making health data more accessible to both patients and medical professionals both at home and abroad. It also seeks to create the right environment to safely use this information in order to boost research and innovation.

Data related to healthcare (such as a doctor's consultation) is known as primary use.

 Secondary use refers to information that is processed, under strict security and confidentiality conditions, for instance in policy-making or the improvement of healthcare products.

Health Level Seven is a set of international standards used to provide guidance when transferring and sharing data between various healthcare providers (the HL7 standards were created by Health Level Seven International, a non-profit organisation supported by more than 1600 members from over 50 countries, including healthcare providers, government stakeholders, pharmaceutical companies, etc.

Sharing medical data is seen as one of the best ways to foster growth in the digital health sector, as it should overcome the current fragmentation of health standards in Europe.

In Greece, organisations like the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) say common specifications will promote business opportunities.

"In the European market, the e-health sector and companies