The Good, the Bad and the Data: The European Health Data Space and Its Future in Sweden

The new European Health Data Space (EHDS) aims to transform how health data is used and shared across the European Union (EU). By creating a common EU framework for accessing electronic health records, the regulation aims to improve patient care while enabling research, innovation, and evidence-based policymaking. This presentation explores what the EHDS could mean in practice for Sweden. For patients, the EHDS promises easier access to their own health data and the possibility for patient records to follow them across borders within the EU.

This could improve continuity of care, especially when people travel, move, or receive treatment in another country. At the same time, broader data sharing could accelerate medical research and support the development of new treatments and digital health technologies. However, implementing the EHDS will also bring challenges. Sweden’s healthcare system is highly decentralised, with regions responsible for healthcare delivery and municipalities involved in long-term and social care. Authorities will need to adapt digital infrastructure, ensure interoperability between systems, and establish clear rules for secure data access and governance. In the seminar, we will discuss both the potential benefits and the practical challenges of integrating this EU regulation into the Swedish healthcare system, highlighting what it could mean for patients, healthcare providers, and public authorities.

Lecturer

Titti Mattsson is a Professor of Public Law at Lund University, specialising in health law, social welfare law, and human rights. Her research focuses on how legal frameworks govern welfare systems and healthcare, with particular attention to vulnerable groups such as children, older persons, and individuals in need of care. With extensive interdisciplinary experience, she examines the legal, social, and ethical dimensions of public healthcare and social services. Drawing on a strong human rights perspective, she brings clarity to complex questions about how law can respond to evolving societal and technological challenges.

Petra Holmberg is a legal researcher specialising in health law, AI regulation, and the protection of patient and user rights. Her work explores how emerging technologies are reshaping healthcare, data governance, and ethical safeguards, with a particular focus on those most vulnerable to digital harms. Drawing on her expertise in EU law, including the GDPR and the AI Act, she translates complex regulatory questions into clear and accessible insights, showing why the future of health data matters to everyone.

The event is open to everyone and does not require pre-registration. Participation can take place physically or digitally via Zoom.