Project
The TEHDAS2 joint action is creating concrete guidelines and technical specifications for using health data across country borders. The work involves 29 countries.
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What is our goal?
Our goal is to develop common guidelines and technical specifications to facilitate smooth access to health data and strengthen European collaboration in using data efficiently. The secondary use of health data enhances the competitiveness of European research and innovation in the health sector.
The TEHDAS2 project advances the cross-border secondary use of health data in Europe to improve research, innovation and policy-making. The project builds on the work of the previous TEHDAS project and other European initiatives.
What is it about?
European researchers, businesses and policy-makers face many barriers to the cross-border use of health data. Data is needed to prevent and treat diseases more effectively in the future.
The new European Health Data Space (EHDS) legislation aims to clarify and harmonise Member States’ practices and facilitate cross-border collaboration. The regulation and data protection requirements ensure the secure use of health data. New technologies and common standards will help to change healthcare in Europe for the better, to the benefit of all.
The EHDS aims to enhance the secondary use of health data to strengthen research, innovation and policy-making across Europe.
The primary use of health data refers to the use of health information, such as patient records, to treat an individual. The secondary use of health data means using health data for purposes other than the primary reason for which they were originally collected. The secondary use can be, for example, research, decision-making, development and innovation, and education.
The benefits of the secondary use of health data include better healthcare services and personalised care, thereby saving lives, as well as increased business opportunities for companies and cost savings for societies.
What do we do?
The TEHDAS2 project develops concrete guidelines and technical definitions to make it easier to use health data in different countries. It supports the harmonised implementation of the legislation.
The results of the project guide health data authorities, data holders and data users in fulfilling their future responsibilities under the EHDS Regulation.
For example, the project helps to establish good practices and outlines harmonised means of describing data, supporting the discovery of health data and streamlining access to datasets. It also develops technical specifications for secure data processing environments, as well as co-operation models and guidelines for data access and licensing fees.
TEHDAS2 and the EHDS user journey
TEHDAS2 structures its work around the EHDS user journey, which describes the main phases of the secondary use of health data: data discovery, data access, data preparation, use of data and finalisation.
The diagram illustrates in a simplified manner the key actors involved at each phase, including data users, health data access bodies, data holders, national contact points and shared European services.
TEHDAS2 guidelines and technical specifications support the user journey, with some outputs focusing on specific phases and others applying across all stages of the process.
Who is involved?
The TEHDAS2 project involves partners from 29 European countries. The project is co-ordinated by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra.
The TEHDAS2 joint action is funded by the European Union’s EU4Health Programme and the participating European countries.
Where are we now?
The TEHDAS2 joint action project started on 1 May 2024 and will end on 31 December 2026.
The draft reports produced by the work packages undergo a public consultation, allowing stakeholders to provide input to the TEHDAS2 work in a coherent way.
The consultations are carried out in three waves: January–February 2025, September–November 2025 and May–June 2026. After each consultation, feedback is analysed and incorporated to finalise the work. The final documents include a summary of comments received and revisions made.
The final deliverables from the first public consultation are available on the Results page.