In the era of global digital transformation, personal health data (PGHD) is gradually becoming the core of medical and health management. This type of data covers a wide range of information such as health history, symptoms, lifestyle choices, etc., which is generated, recorded and shared by patients. Whether it is through mobile phone applications or various health devices being developed, the potential for the use of PGHD is constantly expanding. expand. With the advancement of medical technology, PGHD can not only improve the efficiency of medical care, but also may change the relationship between patients and the medical system.
“The future of health data is not only digital, but also networked, led by patients.”
From the traditional medical model, doctors often dominate the collection and transmission of health information. Patients’ voice and participation are relatively low. However, with the proliferation of electronic health records (EHRs) and personal health records (PHRs), the role of the patient is changing dramatically. PGHD empowers patients to proactively participate in the management of their health and make treatment decisions in a data-driven manner. This not only improves patient engagement, but also helps healthcare providers gain more comprehensive patient data to make more informed decisions.
“PGHD makes health management more personalized, allowing patients to continuously track their health status in their daily lives.”
In this data-driven era, healthcare organizations and technology companies have begun leveraging PGHD to drive innovation. For example, health management applications can monitor users’ sleep quality, exercise habits, and eating habits. These data can be fed back to users in real time and provide professional advice when needed. Moreover, by combining PGHD with clinical data, medical providers can obtain a more comprehensive patient portrait and enhance their ability to prevent diseases and promote health.
However, with the rise of PGHD, issues of privacy and security also arise. In the United States, protection of health data was initially established under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which was passed in 1996, but with the rapid development of health technology, existing policies have been challenged. Many experts have called on relevant agencies to develop more comprehensive policies to protect patient privacy and prevent data from being misused.
"We need a sound governance framework that ensures data use while protecting individual privacy."
Against this background, more and more countries and regions are beginning to pay attention to the legal and ethical issues of personal health data. For example, Europe is working to establish a health data network to promote cross-border health research and ensure data standardization. In the United States, some large technology companies are also trying to enter the PGHD market, which may bring new regulatory tests and market challenges.
In the future, the application scope of personal health data will be expanded to public health monitoring and medical research and development. The allocation of medical resources and the improvement of medical quality will depend on the effective use of these data. When patients have control over their own health data, their influence in the healthcare system increases significantly, which brings up a number of important issues.
How do we advance sound governance while protecting everyone’s privacy and security?