Joint Action for the European Health Data Space – TEHDAS
The TEHDAS joint action funded by the 3rd EU Health Programme develops joint European principles for the use of health data. The work will involve 25 countries.
What is it about?
Our goal is that in future, in Europe, people, communities and companies will benefit from secure and seamless access to health data regardless of its location.
The purpose of TEHDAS, the Joint Action Towards the European Health Data Space, is to create joint European principles for the secondary use of health data. The project will focus on the following themes:
- a governance model for cross-border co-operation in the secondary use of health data between European countries;
- ensuring the quality of health data and facilitating joint use;
- planning the infrastructure for the cross-border secondary use of health data;
- clarifying the role of the individual.
The key aim of the project will be to build a European governance model for the use of health data. The model could include creating a completely new organisation or incorporating the duties into existing EU institutions and organisations.
The results of the TEHDAS project will form the basis of the European Commission’s legislative proposals and enable member states to harmonise their national legislation, among other things. A current example of legislative preparation in the EU relates to the creation of the European Health Data Space. The purpose of the European Health Data Space is to enable people, communities and companies to benefit from secure and seamless access to health data regardless of its location.
The TEHDAS joint project is based on the EU Health Programme 2020 (PDF), which specifies the objectives and budget of the project. These objectives were further clarified in spring and summer 2020. The ministry in charge of the project in Finland, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, appointed Sitra to act as the competent authority for the project in Finland.
The competent European authorities taking part in the project unanimously appointed Sitra as the co-ordinator of the joint project in June 2020. Sitra’s role, duties and financial responsibilities are defined in the joint project plan of the 25 countries.
What are we doing?
Sitra is the competent authority appointed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the co-ordinator of the joint action.
We will be co-ordinating the joint 25-country action and operating in close co-operation with the European Commission and other EU institutions and agencies.
As the co-ordinator, we are responsible for the budget granted for the action by the EU Health Programme. We are also responsible for the communications of the joint action and the TEHDAS.eu website, which will be launched in April. In addition, we will take part in implementing the content-related output of the action together with the other partners taking part in the joint action in the 25 countries.
The TEHDAS joint action is being implemented as part of Sitra’s Health Data 2030 project. The joint action will address aspects of data quality and infrastructure and engagement. Sitra may run pilot projects together with its partners in Finland and demonstrate the adoption of the concepts.
Where are we now?
The TEHDAS joint action started on 1 February 2021 and will end on 1 August 2023.
The open call for stakeholders to participate in the project ran from 1 March until 21 March 2021. More information on the project’s progress is available at the TEHDAS website.
Who is involved?
The TEHDAS joint action involves experts from 21 EU member states and four other European countries. In addition to Sitra, associate organisations in Finland include the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), VTT, CSC and Findata.
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