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On 10 October 2024, the 9th Health-RI Conference was held in Utrecht, attended by Ulrich Sax representing NFDI4Health and the TMF – Technologie- und Methodenplattform für die vernetzte medizinische Forschung e.V. (TMF)/Medical Informatics Initiative (MII). The conference brought together experts from across the EU to discuss the current developments within the European Health Data Space (EHDS).
A key theme of the conference was the necessity of standardising national metadata catalogs in the health sector. Participants emphasised that close coordination between countries is essential to ensure interoperability and data availability within the EHDS. Only through a coordinated approach the benefits of the EHDS can be fully realised to enhance healthcare in Europe.
Following the conference, there was a meet-up to exchange views on the various planned national access points to the EHDS, the Health Data Access Bodies (HDABs). Together with Katharina Schneider from BfArM, Ulrich Sax represented the German perspective. In his contribution, he highlighted the role of NFDI4Health as a mediator and supporter in the coordination processes at various levels and among stakeholders. The standardisation of metadata is not only a technical challenge but also requires close collaboration among the various actors in the healthcare sector.
In summary, the meeting represented an important step towards the successful implementation of the EHDS. The discussions and insights will assist NFDI4Health and other relevant initiatives in laying the groundwork for a future-proof health data infrastructure in Europe.
