EHTEL warmly welcomes the start of the implementation initiative, MyHealth@MyHands, which was launched on 1 April 2025. The project is a sister project to i2X. EHTEL is an associated partner in this project, and will support it by connecting the project consortium to the EHTEL network. The association is proud to have two EHTEL members who contribute to the project: Andaman7 and MZCR.
What is the background to MyHealth@MyHands
The MyHealth@MyHands project aligns with the overarching objectives of the European Union (EU) Digital Europe Programme, and – even wider – the European Health Data Space (EHDS). It addresses programme key themes such as interoperability, citizen empowerment, and cross-border health data accessibility. It contributes to creating a digitally inclusive society and advancing the EU's Digital Decade Policy objectives. It supports the programme’s 2030 target of universal access to electronic health records.
MyHealth@MyHands builds on existing digital health advances. By integrating the outcomes of previous and ongoing projects like PATHeD, POTENTIAL, Xt-EHR, and XpanDH, it reinforces the broader adoption and interoperability of health data services across European Member States.
What is MyHealth@MyHands
MyHealth@MyHands focuses on implementation in the general context of the EHDS. It aims at supporting patients’ access to their health data in the context of healthcare services for citizens across the EU. A good part of its efforts are related to integrating the European digital identity wallet in MyHealth@EU.( MyHealth@EU is the brand name for the digital services infrastructure that enables the primary use of health data in Europe.)
The project offers an opportunity to transform health and care across Europe. It will be putting into place game-changing service lines in the European digital health network. The project results will enable citizens to have universal access to their own electronic health record.
What is MyHealth@MyHands doing
MyHealth@MyHands will undertake four key activities. Deployment of the EU Digital Identity Wallet will materialise by 2026. The other activities will be undertaken throughout the four years’ duration of the project.
MyHealth@MyHands will:
- Increase Patient Access Coverage Across Member States: During the project lifetime, it will expand interoperable health data systems in production to the participating 18 Member States/countries. These are Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Sweden.
- Deploy the EU Digital Identity Wallet: By 2026, the project will facilitate integration and use of the EU Digital Identity Wallet for secure patient authentication and data access in the participating 18 countries.
- Enhance Interoperability: By the project end, it will implement the European Electronic Health Record Exchange Format (EEHRxF) guidelines to improve data interoperability across Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems. This will be done in complementarity with i2X.
- Improve Patient Access to Health Data: By the project end, it will provide the technical capability for all EU citizens to access and manage their health data securely across borders.
The voice and actions of MyHealth@MyHands
The project coordinators, the Department of Health in Ireland, have this to say about the project’s ambitions:
“MyHealth@MyHands is more than a lighthouse initiative—it’s a collaboration placing the future firmly in our hands. Building on the success of MyHealth@EU and previous advances in the European digital health infrastructure, we will elevate digital healthcare by seamlessly integrating the innovative European Digital Identity Wallet. With unhindered data flows and [...] citizen-centred user experience at the core, we'll develop and operate systems that provide the foundation for enhanced personalised health services. Together, we’ll empower citizens [by giving them] unprecedented control over their health journeys.”
This forward-thinking group of Member States, and many other public sector and private sector partners, is clearly dedicated to redefining digital health with accessible, secure, and interconnected services.