Improving Health Research by Sharing Data Internationally

Health research is crucial for everyone and data sharing is essential for success. In the report “International sharing of personal health data for research” the European academy networks ALLEA, EASAC and FEAM argue for an international exchange of personal health information for research.

Health research benefits individual patients and populations, supports development of health care systems, and underpins social cohesion and stability. Collecting and combining health data is fundamental for the advancement of medical research, reducing health inequalities, and improving disease diagnosis and treatment.

For this report, All European Academies (ALLEA), Federation of European Academies of Medicine (FEAM) and the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) joint forces to argue their case. Although the transfer of personal data for research is properly in practice within Europe, global sharing is being hampered by European regulations. In 2019, over 5,000 research projects came accross problems due to the privact regulations.

The report describes how global sharing of health data benefits public research, the challenges imposed and possible solutions through adapting or expanding the existing legal framework. If no action is undertaken, Europe may lose its position as world leader in the area of health research.

Read the full report here.

Source: ALLEA