The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) recognises data concerning health as a special category of data and provides a definition for health data for data protection purposes. Though the innovative principles introduced by the GDPR (privacy by design or the prohibition of discriminatory profiling) remain relevant and applicable to health data as well, specific safeguards for personal health data and for a definitive interpretation of the rules that allows an effective and comprehensive protection of such data have now been addressed by the GDPR. Processes that foster innovation and better quality healthcare, such as clinical trials or mobile health, need robust data protection safeguards in order to maintain the trust and confidence of individuals in the rules designed to protect their data.
Opinion on Mobile Health - Reconciling technological innovation with data protection
Opinion on the amended Commission proposal for a Directive on the transparency of measures regulating the prices of medicinal products for human use and their inclusion in the scope of public health insurance systems
In the course of 2012, we once again set new benchmarks in different areas of activity. In the supervision of EU institutions and bodies, when processing personal data, we interacted with more data protection officers in more institutions and bodies than ever before. In addition, we saw the effects of our new enforcement policy: most EU institutions and bodies, including many agencies, are making good progress in complying with the Data Protection Regulation, although there are still some which should increase their efforts.
In the consultation of new legislative measures, we issued a record number of opinions on a wide range of subjects. The Review of the EU legal framework for data protection was at the top of our agenda. However, the implementation of the Stockholm programme in the area of freedom, security and justice and the Digital Agenda, as well as issues in the internal market, such as financial sector reform and in public health and consumer affairs, also had an impact on data protection. We also increased our cooperation with other supervisory authorities.
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