Cross-border exchange of electronic medical records

The European Commission has published a roadmap announcing a recommendation to establish an electronic health record exchange format (EHRxF) before the end of the current legislative period. 

The aim of the Recommendation is to help Member States develop strategies and adapt their legal framework to promote the secure exchange of electronic data between patient records. Furthermore, the Recommendation is concerned about the adoption and further development of common technical specifications for a European Electronic Health Record exchange format. Finally, the Recommendation seeks to identify ways for the Commission, Member States and other stakeholders to work together to continuously improve standards and specifications to achieve interoperability.

Meanwhile, the eHealth Network, an initiative of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health involving all Member States and their respective ministries responsible for electronic health services, is discussing this proposal. The main question is whether this EU initiative can possibly interfere with the national implementation of electronic health records and telematics infrastructures.

According to the roadmap, the Commission is preparing a revision of Implementing Decision 2001/890/EU on the establishment, the management and the functioning of the network of national authorities responsible for eHealth. Among other things, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, EU/2016/679), which has since entered into force, should be taken into account.

The initiative was announced both in the Commission’s 2019 work programme and in the Commission Communication on the digital transformation of health and care in the Digital Single Market.

The Commission’s roadmap from 22 Dec 2018: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/initiatives/ares-2018-5986687 

2019 Commission Work Programme: https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/2019-commission-work-programme-key-documents_en

Communication on enabling the digital transformation of health and care in the Digital Single Market; empowering citizens and building a healthier society from 25 Apr 2018: https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/1/2018/DE/COM-2018-233-F1-DE-MAIN-PART-1.PDF