The European Health Data Space (EHDS) seeks to address key challenges
facing healthcare systems in Europe resulting from lack of access to health
data, and is designed to boost Europe’s competitiveness on the global
stage. If passed, individuals will have access to, and control over, their
digital health data from anywhere within the EU. It will also make large,
anonymised datasets available for research, innovation, and policymaking.
When compared to European countries such as Denmark, that has a
similar-sized population, Ireland has traditionally had less access to
health research funding. This coupled with a lack of integrated health data
availability has meant that finding Irish patients to take part in clinical trials
is difficult.
By harnessing the value of health data, the EHDS has potential
to enable better healthcare for patients, and improve the lives of the family
teams that care for them. Ireland has a unique set of capabilities that can
contribute to the vision of the EHDS and support the needs of patients,
healthcare professionals, and others working on the frontline of healthcare
at home and across Europe.
Awareness will need to be raised among key stakeholders—the healthcare
system, patients, citizens—and support provided to help them prepare for
the far-reaching changes ahead. Their engagement will in no small part
determine Ireland’s ability to make the leap from where it is today to full-
scale implementation of the EHDS in 2025.
Lynch Syndrome Ireland 