Unlocking the Future of Healthcare: Growing European Support for Data Sharing and Interoperability

Europe’s healthcare is stepping boldly into a data-driven revolution — and the public is ready. A recent survey conducted by Johnson & Johnson MedTech indicates a significant shift in public sentiment across Europe, revealing increasing support for enhanced healthcare data sharing. The survey, engaging over 4,000 participants from France, Germany, Italy, and the UK, found that a compelling 73% of respondents are in favour of sharing their health data in exchange for more personalised care. This enthusiasm is even more pronounced among healthcare professionals, with a remarkable 86% expressing strong support for AI-driven healthcare solutions, alongside data sharing and surgical training technologies.

These findings highlight a growing societal readiness to embrace technology’s role in healthcare transformation. The evident value propositions of better outcomes, the promise of precision medicine, and more efficient systems are clearly resonating across the continent.

Context: European Health Data Space (EHDS)

The encouraging results of the J&J MedTech survey align powerfully with recent strategic policy developments at the European Union level, most notably the European Health Data Space (EHDS) initiative. Envisioned as a cornerstone of the European Health Union, the EHDS is strategically designed to:
Empower citizens with access to and control over their electronic health records across all EU member states.

Enable secure, cross-border sharing of health data for research, innovation, policy-making, and regulatory oversight.

Standardise health data formats and enforce rigorous privacy protections under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

EHDS represents a pivotal step toward resolving the fragmentation that currently hampers data-driven research, coordinated care, and innovation at scale. By establishing common infrastructure and legal clarity, it sets the stage for a more connected, responsive, and efficient healthcare ecosystem across Europe.

Public Trust and Technology Readiness

The survey also illustrates a maturing public understanding of how data can unlock tangible improvements in healthcare. This includes advancements ranging from sophisticated surgical training supported by immersive virtual reality environments to cutting-edge AI tools capable of predicting patient outcomes with greater accuracy. Notably, 76% of survey participants expressed support for the integration of technology in medical training, and a significant 65% voiced optimism regarding the transformative potential of AI in healthcare.

This optimism is grounded in an increasing willingness to entrust institutions with personal health data — a critical foundation for any data-driven ecosystem. Yet, sustaining that trust requires clear action: transparent governance, strong cybersecurity, and mechanisms for informed consent must be embedded into every stage of data use.

Market Implications for Digital Health and MedTech

As Europe accelerates the comprehensive digital transformation of its healthcare systems, the strategic and commercial implications for MedTech, biopharma, and healthtech companies are substantial:

• Data interoperability is becoming a critical differentiator. Devices and platforms that can seamlessly integrate into multi-country, multi-stakeholder ecosystems will have a clear competitive edge.
• Evidence generation using real-world data (RWD) is set to expand rapidly, offering more dynamic and contextualised insights into patient outcomes, treatment efficacy, and market access decisions.
• Cross-border collaborations — previously hindered by disparate national systems — will gain momentum, as EHDS-standardised frameworks reduce friction and facilitate pan-European studies.
• These shifts signal a turning point: value in healthcare will increasingly come from how well organisations use and share data, not just from products and services alone.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite the promise, success depends on navigating several complex challenges:

• Data Privacy and Security: Robust measures beyond GDPR are crucial to maintain public trust and prevent misuse.
• Interoperability Hurdles: True data exchange demands significant technical and collaborative effort across health systems.
• Sustaining Public Trust: Transparent governance and clear accountability are key to retaining citizen trust.
• Equity and Access: All population groups must benefit — not just digitally connected or affluent communities.
• Patient Empowerment: Providing individuals with the knowledge and tools to understand and control their data is vital.
• Ethical Use of AI: Bias, fairness, and explainability must be prioritised in the development and deployment of AI models.

These are not merely technical challenges — they are societal ones. Addressing them requires coordination across the entire ecosystem.

Moving Forward: A Collaborative Imperative

The confluence of strong public endorsement, decisive policy action, and accelerating technological progress has created an unprecedented opportunity to reshape European healthcare for the better. The path to build a truly integrated health data infrastructure demands a concerted and collaborative effort from all stakeholders. Providers, policymakers, technology innovators, and, most importantly, the citizens of Europe must work in unison to navigate the challenges and ensure that the transformative power of shared health data ultimately translates into more personalised, efficient, and equitable healthcare outcomes for generations to come. The future of European healthcare hinges on our collective commitment to realising this vision responsibly and inclusively.

Vamstar’s Role in the Future of Health Data

At Vamstar, we believe the future of healthcare will be shaped not just by data access, but by how intelligently and ethically that data is put to work. As an AI-driven platform that connects procurement, evidence, and market insights across health systems, we are committed to enabling the kind of interoperable, transparent, and insights-rich ecosystem that the EHDS envisions.

By empowering stakeholders with real-time intelligence and harmonised data, Vamstar helps turn healthcare ambition into actionable impact — driving better outcomes for patients and systems alike.