Civil society urges EU lawmakers to protect patient data in the Digital Omnibus

A group of nine civil society organisations, including the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), have published a joint statement calling on EU policymakers to safeguard patient data protection within the planned Digital Omnibus legislation.

The group representing patients, consumers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, hospitals, healthcare providers, and non-profit health mutuals warned that while digitalisation can enhance healthcare, it must not compromise fundamental rights, patient confidentiality, or public trust. Highlighting that medical information is sensitive personal data that reveals intimate details about physical and mental health, the group argues that healthcare innovation cannot come at the expense of privacy protections.

To maintain robust standards, the group outlined several essential measures, including preserving health data protections in digital environments, preventing AI development from bypassing safeguards for the use of patient data, and shielding patients from tracking, profiling, and commercial exploitation. In addition, the group calls on lawmakers to maintain strict protections for pseudonymised health data, preserve rights against automated decision-making, and guarantee meaningful human oversight across healthcare services.

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