The secure and efficient sharing of data has changed how we live. From entertainment and communication to travel and financial services, the world have become more connected. Healthcare has been slow to embrace the digital revolution, but collaboration between public and private partners across Europe is helping to change that.
The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) has supported 17 consortia which aim to standardise the way data are collected and recorded. The overarching goal is to ensure that health data are FAIR: findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable.
This requires a significant effort and investment, but the prize is priceless. Data sharing benefits health research and drives innovation in healthcare. Ultimately, if Europe can accelerate the development and uptake of digital health, patients and society will benefit.
So, how can the potential of health data be unleashed, while ensuring privacy and security for individuals?Several IMI projects have taken on this task while others are using large datasets to unblock bottlenecks in health research.
