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Data solidarity

Health insurance is historically based on the fact that people put money in a box, a cash register, and people can take money from that cash register when they are ill. We have generalised this to our current health insurance, which is based on solidarity, people pay contributions and taxes, which can then be used by everyone when and where necessary.

Actually, the same principles apply for data solidarity, meaning data produced by people should be available to the people. Just as all citizens contribute to the healthcare system through taxes, so too should data be shared for the common good. Data solidarity foregrounds the public value when it benefits people and communities without the risk of invading citizens’ direct privacy. Data solidarity should be a guiding principle for secondary health data use. It builds on open data policy that is already promoted at EU level but also encompasses the commitment of citizens and society.