Challenge
The fragmentation of digital health standards across Europe continues to limit the potential of cross-border data sharing, hindering the realisation of a truly connected European Health Data Space. While the European Electronic Health Record Exchange Format (EEHRxF) provides a framework for standardisation, the actual implementation across countries and systems remains uneven. Moreover, citizens’ ability to exercise their data portability rights under GDPR is still constrained by technical and organisational barriers.
Solutions
The xShare project introduces a simple yet powerful innovation: a universal “xShare” button that allows individuals to easily share their electronic health records with just a single click. This feature, integrated into health portals and patient-facing apps, aims to make data portability a reality across the EU. To support this, xShare is establishing the European EHRxF Standards and Policy Hub, a collaborative platform involving six major standards-developing organisations, alongside key market representatives such as DIGITAL Europe, MedTech Europe, and EUCROF. Empirica contributes by designing indicator frameworks that monitor both the uptake of EEHRxF and the operational effectiveness of the new Standards Hub. These efforts are supported by systematic data collection through surveys and interviews, ensuring that policy recommendations and technical adjustments are grounded in real-world feedback. Additionally, Empirica is applying expertise in digital education by mapping existing training resources on eID and cybersecurity in healthcare, identifying gaps, and producing targeted reports to strengthen capacity in secure health data management.
Results
xShare’s ambition is to enable a seamless, GDPR-compliant digital health environment where individuals are empowered to control and contribute their health data for research, care, and innovation. The project’s push for harmonised standards and easier data exchange is expected to accelerate the creation of the European Health Data Space, support medical research, and improve cross-border healthcare delivery. By establishing a shared infrastructure and policy coordination hub, xShare not only addresses current interoperability challenges but also lays the groundwork for long-term collaboration between regulatory bodies, industry, and healthcare providers. The ability for citizens to directly share their data (with informed consent) marks a significant step towards patient empowerment and a more resilient European digital health ecosystem.