Privacy policies, cross-border health data and the GDPR

Background: The increase of healthcare digitalization comes along with potential information security risks. Thus, the EU H2020 KONFIDO project aimed to provide a toolkit supporting secure cross-border health data exchange. Methods: KONFIDO focused on the so-called “User Goals”, while also identifying barriers and facilitators regarding eHealth acceptance. Key user scenarios were elaborated both in terms of threat analysis and legal challenges. Moreover, KONFIDO developed a toolkit aiming to enhance the security of OpenNCP, the reference implementation framework. Results: The main project outcomes are highlighted and the “Lessons Learned,” the technical challenges and the EU context are detailed. Conclusions: The main “Lessons Learned” are summarized and a set of recommendations is provided, presenting the position of the KONFIDO consortium toward a robust EU-wide health data exchange infrastructure. To this end, the lack of infrastructure and technical capacity is highlighted, legal and policy challenges are identified and the need to focus on usability and semantic interoperability is emphasized. Regarding technical issues, an emphasis on transparent and standards-based development processes is recommended, especially for landmark software projects. Finally, promoting mentality change and knowledge dissemination is also identified as key step toward the development of secure cross-border health data exchange services.

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The European Cross-Border Health Data Exchange: Focus on Clinically Relevant Data

Studies in Health Technology and Informatics - Public Health and Informatics ◽

10.3233/shti210197 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sari Palojoki ◽

Anne Vakkuri ◽

Riikka Vuokko

Keyword(s):

Continuity Of Care ◽

Information Exchange ◽

Data Exchange ◽

Health Data ◽

Border Health ◽

Digital Service ◽

Cross Border ◽

National Perspective ◽

The Eu

The eHealth Digital Service Infrastructure (eHDSI) is an infrastructure ensuring the continuity of care for European citizens while they are travelling abroad in the EU. We present the Finnish readiness of implementing datasets of diagnosis, vaccinations and medication summary in a case study, and discuss challenges emerging from the national perspective. International harmonized standards are a key element in the smooth development of European information exchange.

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The European cross-border health data exchange roadmap: Case study in the Italian setting

Journal of Biomedical Informatics ◽

10.1016/j.jbi.2019.103183 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 94 ◽

pp. 103183 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Marco Nalin ◽

Ilaria Baroni ◽

Giuliana Faiella ◽

Maria Romano ◽

Flavia Matrisciano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Data Exchange ◽

Health Data ◽

Border Health ◽

Cross Border

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Cross border health care in Europe

BMJ ◽

10.1136/bmj.318.7192.1157 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 318 (7192) ◽

pp. 1157-1158 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

P. Kanavos ◽

M. McKee ◽

T. Richards

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Border Health ◽

Cross Border

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EFFECT OF CROSS‐BORDER HEALTH CARE ON QUALITY AND PROGRESSIVITY OF FINANCING

Review of Urban and Regional Development Studies ◽

10.1111/rurd.12093 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (1-2) ◽

pp. 29-43

Author(s):

Hiroshi Aiura

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Border Health ◽

Cross Border

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Managing Borders During Public Health Emergencies of International Concern: A Proposed Typology of Cross-border Health Measures

10.21203/rs.3.rs-278629/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kelley Lee ◽

Karen A Grépin ◽

Catherine Worsnop ◽

Summer Marion ◽

Julianne Piper ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Research Policy ◽

Grey Literature ◽

World Health ◽

Border Health ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

Public Health Emergencies ◽

Cross Border ◽

Health Measures ◽

Starting Point

Abstract BackgroundThe near universal adoption of cross-border health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide has prompted significant debate about their effectiveness and compliance with international law. The number of measures used, and the range of measures applied, have far exceeded previous public health emergencies of international concern. However, efforts to advance research, policy and practice to support their effective use has been hindered by a lack of clear and consistent definition. ResultsBased on a review of existing datasets for cross-border health measures, such as the Oxford Coronavirus Government Response Tracker and World Health Organization Public Health and Social Measures, along with analysis of secondary and grey literature, we propose six categories to define measures more clearly and consistently – type of movement (travel and trade), policy goal, level of jurisdiction, use by public versus private sector, stage of journey, and degree of restrictiveness. These categories are then be brought together into a proposed typology that can support research with generalizable findings and comparative analyses across jurisdictions. The typology facilitates evidence-informed decision-making which takes account of policy complexity including trade-offs and externalities. Finally, the typology can support efforts to strengthen coordinated global responses to outbreaks and inform future efforts to revise the WHO International Health Regulations (2005). ConclusionsThe widespread use of cross-border health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted significant reflection on available evidence, previous practice and existing legal frameworks. The typology put forth in this paper aims to provide a starting point for strengthening research, policy and practice.

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Measuring the efficiency of medical tourism industry in EU member states

Journal of Tourism Analysis ◽

10.1108/jta-02-2019-0006 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 115-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lorena Androutsou ◽

Theodore Metaxas

Keyword(s):

Member State ◽

Medical Tourism ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Tourism Industry ◽

Border Health ◽

Hospital Discharges ◽

Content Type ◽

Eu Member States ◽

Cross Border ◽

The Cross

Purpose Under the Directive 2011/24/EU, medical tourism and cross-border health are interrelated terms regarding the freedom to move to get the most accessible medical treatment into EU Member State within the defined procedures for reimbursement. Little known empirically regarding the efficiency of the cross-border health/medical tourism industry. This study aims to measure its efficiency in Europe for the years 2010-2014, by using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Design/methodology/approach Data obtained from OECD and the European Core Health Indicators (ECHI), which is collecting the data through Eurostat. Eurostat collects data on health-care activities and provides data on hospital discharges, including the hospital discharges of non-residents and these include hospital discharges of in-patients and day care patients. The analysis uses “DEA.P, 2.1 for windows” by Coelli (1996). Findings The results show that the Members States health systems were very efficient in handling non-residents in-patients; however, when managing day cases/outpatients, the efficiency scores dropped. Practical implications The findings would have significant associations affecting intentions to revisit clinics and the destination country. In addition, will be useful to those seeking a better understanding of the cross-border health and medical tourism industry efficiency. Originality/value Extending the findings of the European Commission report (2015c) by examining how well medical tourists are informed about the decision they are making, would be of perceived value. These are important indicators at European level by helping each Member State to measure its medical tourism services.

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