Cross-Border Data Sharing can Unlock Preventative Healthcare
As healthcare systems worldwide grapple with rising costs and ageing populations, the focus is shifting from treating illnesses, to preventing them. While high-profile initiatives like smoking bans capture headlines – more than 50 countries have now implemented some form of tobacco control measures. But the real revolution in preventative healthcare lies in something far less visible - data, says Gerard Hanratty, Head of Health and Life sciences at Browne Jacobson.
“If governments worldwide are serious about a ‘prevention is better than cure’ mantra, a view that many other countries have now reached, we must also take collective action in how we gather, use and share personal data,” he explains. “The potential benefits for developing preventative healthcare systems and enabling research to tackle currently incurable diseases is obvious to all.”
Put simply, moving from predominantly curative healthcare systems that prioritise treatments of diseases to preventative models characterised by early interventions will cure through prevention a number of difficult issues that healthcare systems face.
“The power of health data, shared across multiple jurisdictions and research projects, to positively support the development of preventative health systems is immeasurable, especially in a world that faces the increasing risk of pandemics,” Gerard continues. “Data is integral to developing actionable healthcare strategies that may feature value-based payment models, population health initiatives and precision medicine. Accessing records from a wide range of health providers, systems and patients paints a more comprehensive picture of societies, informing the subtle changes we can all make for a healthy lifestyle.”
Barriers to sharing healthcare data across borders
Realising this ambition depends on sharing data across borders but contains many obstacles, as illustrated by a new white paper by the UAE-UK Business Council, titled ‘Opportunities for collaboration between the UK and UAE in cancer care’.
The report, which Browne Jacobson contributed to, advocates for greater international collaboration in prevention, screening and diagnostics strategies for cancer care – one of the most significant global healthcare challenges, with new diagnoses set to rise from 19m in 2020 to 30.2m by 2040.
“The international exchange of personal data will contribute to joint research projects and clinical trials, as well as enabling AI to learn and support important research so we can start to unlock the secrets contained in the data from the genomics programmes undertaken by many countries,” he shares. “But approaches to how personal data is used vary significantly across different cultures, reflecting diverse values, norms and legal frameworks. While some countries prioritise individual privacy rights and control over personal data, others balance these concerns with national security or economic interests.”
Regulatory consensus is developing in the healthcare sector
“There is, though, a global trend towards stronger data protection, exemplified by the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, whose hallmarks are now evident in laws established by countries including the UK, Brazil, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates and Thailand,” Gerard says.
This means we already have partial harmonisation in core principles around how data should be shared. We also saw national frameworks put aside during the pandemic as cross-border sharing of knowledge about the disease was vital to the effectiveness of treatment and vaccine development.
“Excitement is building around the European Health Data Space, which aims to create a ‘single market’ for electronic health records across the EU, enabling a free flow of data for research, innovation, policy-making and regulatory activities,” he continues.
This also applies to the development of the EU AI Act, which seeks to regulate and enable positive benefit for society and healthcare from AI. If successful, their scope could be broadened to other jurisdictions.
“The future of healthcare isn't just about innovative treatments or breakthrough drugs – it's about harnessing the collective power of global health data to stop diseases before they start,” he adds. “In this increasingly connected world, our ability to share and analyse health data across borders could be the key to unlocking a healthier future for all. The question isn't whether we should embrace this digital health revolution, but how quickly we can make it happen.”
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