Health Data Governance
Privacy, Monitoring and Research
All countries are investing in health data. There are however significant cross-country
differences in data availability and use. Some countries stand out for their innovative
practices enabling privacy-protective data use while others are falling behind with
insufficient data and restrictions that limit access to and use of data, even by government
itself. Countries that develop a data governance framework that enables privacy-protective
data use will not only have the information needed to promote quality, efficiency
and performance in their health systems, they will become a more attractive centre
for medical research. After examining the current situation in OECD countries, a multi-disciplinary
advisory panel of experts identified eight key data governance mechanisms to maximise
benefits to patients and to societies from the collection, linkage and analysis of
health data and to, at the same time, minimise risks to the privacy of patients and
to the security of health data. These mechanisms include coordinated development of
high-value, privacy-protective health information systems, legislation that permits
privacy-protective data use, open and transparent public communication, accreditation
or certification of health data processors, transparent and fair project approval
processes, data de-identification and data security practices that meet legal requirements
and public expectations without compromising data utility and a process to continually
assess and renew the data governance framework as new data and new risks emerge.
Published on October 05, 2015
In series:OECD Health Policy Studiesview more titles