The main aim is to improve individuals' access to and control over their own health data, while enabling it to be re-used for purposes of public interest, research and decision support. The agreement aims to harmonise the rules to ensure cross-border access to electronic health data, enabling patients to benefit from seamless care when travelling to other EU countries, and doctors to optimise their treatment.

The new rules guarantee easier and faster access to electronic health data for individuals, regardless of their country of residence within the EU. They also give individuals greater control over how their health data is used.

The EHDS also opens up vast possibilities for scientific research by providing secure access, under strict conditions, to certain specific health data, which will contribute to the development of public health policies and statistics at European level.

This European agreement on the exchange of health data paves the way for a standardised european format for cross-border data exchange, reinforcing the potential of the Electronic Health Record (DSP Dossier de Soins Partagé) for more effective management of people's health across Europe.

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