Your medical records will travel with you across Europe: how MyHealth@EU works

Imagine the following situation. You are travelling in Ireland, the Netherlands or Portugal and suddenly need medical attention. Until now, the usual experience has been to start almost from scratch: explaining your medical history, trying to remember the medication you take, attempting to translate the name of a medical condition or waiting for a family member to send your medical reports from Spain.

The European Union wants this to become a thing of the past. That is why it created MyHealth@EU, an initiative that is still being developed and will allow certain medical information to be shared securely between participating countries. Although the project has not yet been fully implemented, it represents an important step towards making healthcare simpler and safer for people who travel or live in another European country.

What exactly is MyHealth@EU?

Put simply, MyHealth@EU is a network that connects the healthcare systems of different European countries so they can exchange essential medical information whenever necessary.

It is not a single European database storing everyone’s health records. Each country continues to keep its own data. What MyHealth@EU does is provide a common, secure system that allows only the information needed to be shared when a patient receives healthcare in another Member State.

What information will be shared?

The system will be introduced gradually. At present, the most advanced services include:

• a patient summary containing essential medical information (allergies, major medical conditions, ongoing treatments, etc.);
• electronic prescriptions and confirmation that medication has been dispensed.

Over the coming years, other documents are expected to be added, including hospital discharge reports, laboratory test results, medical imaging reports and other electronic clinical documents.

What advantages could this offer you?

For many of our readers, this is probably the most interesting part. If you live in Spain but travel frequently around Europe, or spend part of the year in different countries, this system could make accessing healthcare considerably easier.

For example:

• a doctor could quickly check your allergies or significant medical conditions;
• a pharmacy could recognise an electronic prescription issued in another country once the service is available;
• language-related misunderstandings could be reduced;
• you would no longer need to repeat the same medical information every time you travel.

In an emergency, having that information available within seconds could make an important difference.

Is it already working?

Yes… but only partially. MyHealth@EU is already operational between several European countries for certain services, although not every Member State currently offers the same functionalities.

The European Union plans to roll out the system gradually over the coming years. The aim is for all countries to progressively introduce the different services included in the new European Health Data Space (EHDS).

What does this mean for foreigners living in Spain?

For those who have chosen to settle in Spain, this initiative could prove especially useful. Many people maintain close links with their home country, travel regularly or even receive medical treatment in different European countries. Being able to share certain medical information securely could make these situations much easier and provide greater peace of mind. As this is a European Union initiative, UK citizens are not included. However, if you are a UK citizen but are registered with the healthcare system of an EU country, such as Spain, you will be eligible and will be able to benefit from all its advantages.

It is worth remembering, however, that this project does not replace the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which remains necessary to access temporary public healthcare during a stay in another country. The two systems are complementary: one gives you the right to receive healthcare, while the other helps ensure that care is delivered more quickly, more safely and more effectively.

A project with great potential

Although there is still some way to go, MyHealth@EU represents a significant change in the way healthcare is understood across Europe. We travel more than ever before, many of us spend years living abroad, and increasingly our lives span two or more healthcare systems. Allowing our medical information to travel safely with us seems like a logical next step.

Perhaps in a few years’ time it will seem as normal as using a bank card or a mobile phone anywhere in Europe. And if it also helps prevent medical errors, saves valuable time and provides better care when we need it most, it will be good news for everyone.

At DIDIER&Co, we like to share information that may be of interest to you, such as what you have just read.

We want to help you settle in Spain and overcome language and bureaucratic barriers. With more than fifteen years of experience, we provide advice, assistance and interpreting in Spanish, English, French and soon Dutch. Spanish medical interpretation and medical translation is our speciality. Whether you are a resident or a tourist, we support you when you need to see doctors in Spain or navigate official procedures. Our aim is to make your life easier.

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