[{"command":"settings","settings":{"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"eJxLzi9K1U8pKi1IzNFLyUzMyU_XS8xKrNApSCxKTC9KLMgohskiRPRK8wpKk3IyizNSUwAiWxkF","theme":"upd","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":[],"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"22dcdfba032631beed6427d0f24bf0844dfb9bda62deaafe5cec74da1a30ffe0"}},"merge":true},{"command":"add_css","data":[{"rel":"stylesheet","media":"all","href":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/themes\/base\/core.css?tj04ap"},{"rel":"stylesheet","media":"all","href":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/themes\/base\/controlgroup.css?tj04ap"},{"rel":"stylesheet","media":"all","href":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/themes\/base\/checkboxradio.css?tj04ap"},{"rel":"stylesheet","media":"all","href":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/themes\/base\/resizable.css?tj04ap"},{"rel":"stylesheet","media":"all","href":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/themes\/base\/button.css?tj04ap"},{"rel":"stylesheet","media":"all","href":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/themes\/base\/dialog.css?tj04ap"},{"rel":"stylesheet","media":"all","href":"\/core\/misc\/components\/progress.module.css?tj04ap"},{"rel":"stylesheet","media":"all","href":"\/core\/misc\/components\/ajax-progress.module.css?tj04ap"},{"rel":"stylesheet","media":"all","href":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/themes\/base\/theme.css?tj04ap"},{"rel":"stylesheet","media":"all","href":"\/modules\/contrib\/paragraphs\/css\/paragraphs.unpublished.css?tj04ap"}]},{"command":"add_js","selector":"body","data":[{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery\/jquery.min.js?v=3.7.1"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/once\/once.min.js?v=1.0.1"},{"src":"\/core\/misc\/drupalSettingsLoader.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/misc\/drupal.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/misc\/drupal.init.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/version-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/data-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/disable-selection-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/jquery-patch-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/scroll-parent-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/unique-id-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/focusable-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/keycode-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/plugin-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/widget-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/labels-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/widgets\/controlgroup-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/form-reset-mixin-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/widgets\/mouse-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/widgets\/checkboxradio-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/widgets\/draggable-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/widgets\/resizable-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/widgets\/button-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/jquery.ui\/ui\/widgets\/dialog-min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/tabbable\/index.umd.min.js?v=6.3.0"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/tua-body-scroll-lock\/tua-bsl.umd.min.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/misc\/progress.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/assets\/vendor\/loadjs\/loadjs.min.js?v=4.3.0"},{"src":"\/core\/misc\/debounce.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/misc\/announce.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/misc\/message.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/misc\/ajax.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/misc\/displace.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/misc\/jquery.tabbable.shim.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/misc\/position.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/misc\/dialog\/dialog-deprecation.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/misc\/dialog\/dialog.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/misc\/dialog\/dialog.position.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/misc\/dialog\/dialog.jquery-ui.js?v=10.6.3"},{"src":"\/core\/misc\/dialog\/dialog.ajax.js?v=10.6.3"}]},{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\n          \u003Ca href=\u0022#\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n      \n  \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThis explainer sets out what the European Health Data Space is, why it matters, and what it could mean for people, researchers, health organisations and UK audiences. In simple terms, the EHDS is an EU plan to make health data easier to access, share and reuse safely across Europe.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EBackground\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe European Commission first proposed the EHDS in May 2022 as part of a wider European strategy for data. After nearly three years of negotiation, the final regulation was agreed and entered into force in March 2025. The law sets the broad framework, with many of the details coming via implementing and delegated legislation, so the EHDS will be introduced gradually between 2027 and 2031, with possible participation by non-EU countries expected later (from 2035). \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EOverview\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe EHDS creates an EU-wide system for using health data in two main ways: to support people\u2019s care, and to support wider uses such as research, innovation and public health planning. It is about making health information easier to use across borders while putting rules and safeguards around who can access it and why.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EPrimary use means using health information to support someone\u2019s own care. For example, a patient and their healthcare team could access key health information, such as a patient summary or e-prescription, even when care happens in another EU country. The EHDS supports this through MyHealth@EU, a shared system for safely exchanging priority categories of health information between EU countries.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ESecondary use means using existing health data for purposes beyond someone\u2019s direct care, such as research, public health planning, regulation and innovation. Access would be controlled through HealthData@EU and national Health Data Access Bodies, with safeguards on who can use the data, for what purpose, and in what form.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EKey aims of EHDS\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EPatient rights:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E People gain stronger rights to access their own electronic health data, get a copy of it, and have it corrected. They also gain a right to restrict who can see it for direct care, subject to safeguards for emergencies.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EMandatory interoperability for records systems:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E Electronic health record (EHR) systems sold in the EU will need to meet common interoperability and security standards and undergo mandatory self-certification, recognised by a \u201cEuropean EHR interoperability\u201d label.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EA right to object to secondary use:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E Individuals can opt out of some or all of their data being reused for secondary purposes, without having to give a reason. However, it may not be possible to opt-out of certain public-interest research uses in every EU Member State.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EData holders\u0027 duty to share:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E Organisations that hold health data - hospitals, EHR suppliers, research institutions, and others - must, when a HDAB grants a permit, make relevant datasets available for approved secondary uses. Generally, data users will be granted access to data via a secure processing environment and in anonymised form.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EA phased timetable:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E Most implementing rules are due by March 2027. From March 2029, cross-border exchange of patient summaries and e-prescriptions must work EU-wide, and most secondary-use obligations apply. From March 2031, medical imaging, lab results, and discharge reports follow for primary use, along with rules for clinical trial and genetic data for secondary use. From 2035, third countries and international organisations may be authorised to join HealthData@EU.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EUK relevance\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe UK is no longer an EU member state, so the EHDS does not apply to the NHS or to UK-based organisations as a matter of law. There is no obligation on UK hospitals to become interoperable with primary use requirements, and UK researchers cannot access secondary data under the HealthData@EU framework.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EHowever, the EHDS is still relevant to the UK:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe regulation allows third countries to apply to join HealthData@EU for secondary use once the relevant provisions come into force (from 2035). This could provide a big opportunity for the UK\u2019s research sector, subject to the UK meeting the EU\u0027s data protection and governance requirements. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EUK life sciences and health-tech companies operating in the EU are likely to be considered as \u201chealth data holders\u201d under the EHDS, regardless of where their headquarters sit. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe UK is pursuing broadly similar policy goals through its own domestic route, such as the NHS\u0027s intended single patient record and a Federated Data Platform, and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025\u0027s strengthened powers to mandate information standards (such as consistent use of the NHS number), echo the EHDS\u0027s aims of easier access to your own data and more structured secondary use.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\n\n      \u003Ch3 class=\u0022modal--field-link--title\u0022\u003EFurther reading\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cul class=\u0022modal--field-link--list\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/health.ec.europa.eu\/ehealth-digital-health-and-care\/european-health-data-space-regulation-ehds_en\u0022\u003EEuropean Health Data Space (EHDS)\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n  \u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/eli\/reg\/2025\/327\/oj\/eng\u0022\u003EEHDS Regulation (EU) 2025\/327\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n  \u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/health.ec.europa.eu\/ehealth-digital-health-and-care\/digital-health-and-care\/electronic-cross-border-health-services_en\u0022\u003EElectronic cross-border health services (MyHealth@EU)\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n  \u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/acceptance.data.health.europa.eu\/?locale=en\u0022\u003EEuropean Health Data Space - Official entry point (HealthData@EU)\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\n    ","dialogOptions":{"width":"70%","height":"auto","dialogClass":"highlight-modal-dialog","closeOnEscape":"true","closeText":"Close text","buttons":{"button1":{"text":"Close"}},"modal":true,"title":"European Health Data Space (EHDS)","classes":{"ui-dialog":"highlight-modal-dialog"}}}]