Philippa – In this afternoon's explanation, we are talking about the approval in Strasbourg of the so-called “”.
What are we talking about and what is its purpose is what we want to know, Miguel, because…
What are we talking about?
At the moment, what has happened is that the European Parliament has approved this regulation by a majority of 445 votes in favor and 142 votes against it. The goal is that within 4 years – in 2028 – the clinical history of 450 million European healthcare users – whether Portuguese or citizens of any other Member State – will be available to any doctor in the 27 countries of the Union.
The database will be valid for both public and private healthcare providers.
How will the Polish doctor understand the recording in Portuguese?
Clinical information will be provided through an application and online platform, and will be translated into all languages used in the European Union.
In other words, imagine going to Poland and needing medical care – let's hope that doesn't happen. In this case, the doctor who consults you will have access to your entire clinical record in Polish, which will make your treatment much faster and with less risk of errors.
When you talk about clinical records, are you saying, for example, that all my medical examinations can be consulted throughout Europe?
That's right: the tests, the medications or treatments you prescribed, the diagnoses, the appointments you made or scheduled, everything.
But be careful: the approved regulation considers that “medical data is the property of every citizen,” and each of us will be able to decide whether he wants to see the available clinical information, in whole or in part.
You may decide, for example, to omit a certain medical procedure, or a disease you have been suffering from.
Isn't there a risk of this data falling into the wrong hands? Or might they hurt me later, when I take out insurance or apply for a bank loan?
The regulations approved on Wednesday stipulate that this data “shall not be used for misuse,” whether by “insurance companies or banks in particular,” nor may it be used for marketing actions, promoting harmful products, etc.
In other words, there are well-defined limitations. Of course, as we have seen on other occasions, there is no guarantee that computer hacking will not be able to invade this area as well.
But if this happens, if the GDPR is breached, then this is a justice issue – it will be taken to court, and if a crime is proven, there will be penalties.
Emily Brontë is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, literature, and current affairs. She is dedicated to producing clear, accurate reporting that helps readers stay informed about developments in the UK and around the world.
