Filenews 10 June 2025 - by Marilena Panagi
Cross-border e-health, an application for mobile phones and then an electronic health record that will be created at the time of our birth, will accompany us throughout our lives, will include all the data concerning our health and will close with our death.
Three major projects are underway, with the National eHealth Authority intensifying its efforts and activities, both in Cyprus and at the European Union level, in order to carry out its work.
As far as cross-border eHealth is concerned, Cyprus, through the Authority, has completed its preparation and has been connected to Luxembourg and it is a matter of a short time before the connection with Greece and Estonia is completed, with the aim of soon extending it to the rest of the European countries participating in the program.
The Chairman of the Authority, Konstantinos Pattihis, analyzes in Insider magazine -June 2025 issue- what has already been achieved - such as the launch of cross-border eHealth - what has been promoted - such as the creation of the mobile application - and what has been in progress for a long time and is expected to be completed, some within the next year and some a little later, mainly due to their complexity.
The National Authority for eHealth (OHSA) was established on 23 October 2019, on the basis of the eHealth Law L.59(I)/2019, which was passed on 19 April 2019. OSH acts as a regulatory and supervisory body for all eHealth issues at national, European and cross-border level, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health.
Its vision, as Mr. Pattihis tells Insider, is "the general vision of the European Union for the creation of a single "European eHealth Area and a Single Bank of Electronic Health Records (ETIF/Singe e-Health Records Bank-SeHRB), which will securely store citizens' health data, which will be accessible both by authorized health professionals and by citizens themselves".
Cross-border eHealth is already a fact. It gives the right to every Cypriot/European citizen to "carry" their health data with them, in electronic form, so that in case they need it while in another EU state, which also participates in the relevant program, they can have them at their disposal and receive the health services they need without delay.
THE INTERVIEW
At what stage, Mr. Pattichis, is the work of the Electronic Cross-Border Health Services at the moment and what should we expect in the coming period?
The official launch of Electronic Cross-Border Health Services in Cyprus was announced at a special ceremony held on 16 May 2025, at the Presidential Palace event hall.
Cyprus is the 16th country to join the European infrastructure "HYgeiamou@EU" / "MyHealth@EU". The implementation of the initiative marks an important step towards strengthening digital interoperability in the health sector at European level.
Cyprus has already completed its interconnection with Luxembourg, while Greece and Estonia are expected to follow in June, followed by the interconnection with the rest of the network countries. At a later stage, the remaining eleven EU countries will join the "Earth@EU" network.
With the implementation of the eHealth Digital Service Infrastructure (eHDSI), the Health sector in Cyprus is dynamically entering a new era of interoperability, innovation and accessibility.
Cypriot citizens are now able to benefit from high-quality health services, even when travelling or temporarily residing in other European Union member states.
Through the secure and interoperable exchange of medical data, the continuity of care is enhanced and the immediate and accurate information of health professionals on the patient's condition is ensured. At the same time, administrative barriers are reduced and dangerous medical repetitions or incompatibilities are prevented, which enhances therapeutic efficacy and patient safety.
Apart from the practical issues solved through this tool, what other benefits can the citizen have when moving within European territory?
Overall, Cyprus' participation in this European data exchange system marks a strategic investment in the digital modernization of health, boosting citizens' trust, facilitating cross-border mobility and promoting cooperation between member states, focusing on the human being itself.
In particular, with the patient's consent, the basic information of the Patient Summary – such as allergies, chronic diseases, medication and recent test results – will be immediately and securely available to health professionals in the host country. This access contributes decisively to safe and informed medical decision-making, especially in emergencies or when the patient is unable to adequately communicate his/her medical history.
Therefore, in case a Cypriot citizen travels to another country of the European Union (and which is connected to the "HYgeiamou@EU" network), a doctor in that country will have immediate and secure access to the patient's basic medical information. Similarly, when a European citizen, with a country of residence outside the Republic of Cyprus, visits a doctor in Cyprus, the doctor in Cyprus will be able to immediately and securely obtain the necessary medical data of the patient.
OUR PRESCRIPTIONS ABROAD
As it has already become known, Mr. Pattichi, this tool will also give us the ability to execute prescriptions for medicines abroad, right?
Yes, in addition to cross-border access to medical data, patients can benefit from the ePrescription/eDispensation service.
This service allows them to prescribe medicines in their country of residence and to have the prescription in another European country. In this way, patients will be able to obtain their medicines from pharmacies in other European countries, without the need for a paper prescription or complicated procedures.
A basic prerequisite is the participation of both the country of origin and the country of prescription in the network of Electronic Cross-Border Health Services "HYgeiamou@EU".
This innovative capability strengthens the continuity of healthcare, reduces barriers to access to essential services and contributes to the safety, mobility and quality of life of patients across the EU.
WHAT'S NEXT IN 2026
We understand that the possibilities of "HIgeiamou@EU" are not limited here. What should we expect next?
In 2026, it is envisaged that, in addition to the summary health history and electronic prescriptions for medicines, there will also be the exchange of other important medical documents, such as laboratory and imaging test results, as well as hospital discharge reports, as part of European cross-border cooperation.
Cyprus is proceeding with the gradual implementation of the above-mentioned services, following the implementation schedule of the eHealth Network and the European Commission, with the aim that the Cypriot citizen can, for example, visit a doctor abroad and this doctor, with the patient's consent, have direct access to important medical data that have been created in Cyprus. This facilitates ongoing care, avoids repeat examinations and saves time and costs for the patient."
THE MOBILE APP
Let's move on to the second project that has been promoted, the application for mobile phones. Some information has already been provided from time to time, but it is interesting to know in more detail what this application promises us.
The new national application for mobile devices, "MyHealthAPP", which is expected to be available to citizens within 2026, is being developed in the context of the broader digital transformation of Health, in collaboration with the Health Insurance Organization (HIO).
Its goal is to be the main digital application for communication and service to citizens in relation to the national health system, providing immediate, secure and personalized access to important information and services.
In its first phase of operation, the application will offer basic but particularly useful functions, such as the ability to view the patient's brief health history, the immediate information about overnight pharmacies and doctors on duty, as well as the activation of a special "Panic Button" for use in cases of emergency, in order to quickly and effectively mobilize health services.
During the second phase of implementation, "MyHealthAPP" will be enriched with advanced services, designed to facilitate citizens' daily lives and enhance their control and active participation in their health management.
The new features will include the identification of the nearest healthcare providers through geolocation and their display on an interactive map, the ability to manage access to the user's medical profile by authorised healthcare professionals, the submission of queries or complaints to the competent authorities, as well as the provision of information on on-call health centres outside of hours.
In addition, users will be able to directly access referrals, make a change of physician directly through the app, and receive notifications of recurring prescriptions, upcoming appointments, or other important information related to their healthcare. All services and functions of the application will be designed in accordance with the strictest security and personal data protection standards, as defined by national legislation and the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union (GDPR).
The development of MyHealthAPP marks a new era for healthcare in Cyprus, with the citizen now at the heart of the system. Through the utilization of technology, accessibility, transparency, immediacy and safety are enhanced, substantially improving the patient experience and contributing to the creation of a more efficient and humane health system.
THE ELECTRONIC FILE
Let's move forward, Mr. Pattichi, to the great task that you are called upon to carry out, which concerns the creation of the electronic health record of every citizen. How will this electronic file work?
The next phase of the digital transformation in the health sector concerns the creation of the electronic health record of the citizen, which will be the main repository for the registration and management of health data of all citizens.
The definition of the content of the Integrated Electronic Citizen's Health Record (OIFYP), after a large number of meetings with the Pancyprian Medical Association (PIS) and all medical companies, as well as with the Federation of Cyprus Patients' Associations (OSAK) has now been completed, clearly defining the types of medical and administrative data it will include, such as: diagnoses, medications, allergies, laboratory test results, radiological imaging, hospitalizations, medical notes, referrals and other relevant health information.
At the same time, the process for the creation, establishment and operation of the Single Bank of Electronic Health Records has already begun, which will constitute the central, secure and interoperable infrastructure for the storage of all citizens' Electronic Health Records. The Bank will ensure single, consistent and secure access to health data by authorised healthcare professionals, regardless of geographical area or provider.
For the completion of the design of the Single Bank, meetings were held with all the stakeholders involved (Ministry of Health, Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Health Insurance Organization, State Health Services Organization, Pancyprian Association of Private Hospitals, Pancyprian Pharmaceutical Association, etc.). The purpose of the meetings was to confirm, modify and/or add needs for the Single Bank of Electronic Health Records.
The Electronic Citizen's Health Record will be a key tool for the provision of holistic, coordinated and quality care, facilitating health professionals in making informed decisions and enhancing transparency, prevention and active participation of citizens in the management of their health.
All data will be kept in strict compliance with security standards and privacy requirements, as provided for by national legislation and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
The creation of citizens' electronic health records will contribute decisively to improving Cyprus' assessment rate in the field of eHealth for the Digital Decade.
The Authority, based on the relevant legislation [(Law 59/2019), article 16 (e)], is responsible for defining the operating standards and specifications, the framework for the operation, financing and establishment of a Single National Electronic Health Data Bank (EEHTDY).
To put it simply, the Bank will collect all health data from all providers and store them securely, based on European standards and codifications.
What do we intend to achieve in this way, apart from the practical application of the electronic file again?
With the operation of the File and the proper organization of the Bank, equal access will be safeguarded and ensured, the continuity of care for citizens will be ensured, costs will be reduced, because all data will be available, and errors and repetitions will be avoided.
The primary goal of the Authority, following the philosophy that places the citizen (patient) at the center, is to create the EEITDY, in which all citizens' health data will be stored in a file for each one. A citizen is defined as a person who is registered in the OSH register. This can be a Cypriot, a European or a foreigner who is legally resident or temporarily in Cyprus.
In practice, how will the electronic health record work?
The citizen's file/file will be created at birth, with initial data from his fetal life, which will be identified/inherited from the mother's record. The citizen's file will be kept at EEITDY and will be closed with the medical data from his death.
During his or her lifetime, the citizen will be visited or called, programmatically or unplanned, by health service providers. Health service providers, in Cyprus, for example, regardless of whether or not they are contracted with the Health Insurance Organization or another insurance organization, will be obliged to fill in the necessary health data in the file, which will be kept in the EEITDY. To make this possible, providers will have controlled access to the file, which they will obtain with the consent of the citizen.
Therefore, the healthcare provider will be able to instantly identify and use the patient's medical history to provide the best possible medical care based on medical data. The data may include (among others) laboratory and imaging tests, medical opinions, etc.
In this way, the best medical care will be ensured and the doctor's decisions will be aligned with the medical history. It is obvious that through the EEITDY, the need to repeat medical examinations will be minimized.
The OSH will check and extract data from the providers, which it will have insured and available to the beneficiaries (doctors' offices, clinics and hospitals) and will issue binding instructions for the security and operation of the providers' IT systems. It will also carry out technical inspections in order to ascertain that their operation complies with the provisions of the eHealth Law [(N.59/2019), article 16 (b-c)], the regulations, internal regulations and directives issued pursuant thereto.
OHH, with the support of external consultants, has prepared the tender documents for the implementation of the Single Bank of Electronic Health Records, which has now been put up for preliminary public consultation. The tender is expected to be announced in mid-September 2025 and the award of the successful bidder in April 2026. The implementation of the project is estimated to require an additional two years, which places the completion and full operation of the EIF in a productive environment within 2028.
As you have already explained, the citizen will have access to and be able to use his data inside and outside Cyprus. In order to achieve this, a great deal of preparation is probably needed.
Yes, let's explain what Extended EHR@EU Data Space for Primary Use (Xt-EHR) is. The 30-month Xt-EHR project aims to create guidelines for the development of an integrated, interoperable and secure Electronic Health Record (EHR) system coordinated by the National eHealth Authority.
The aim of the project is to strengthen the interconnection between healthcare providers in the Member States of the European Union, with a view to improving the quality of care, facilitating data exchange and increasing efficiency across the European health ecosystem.
25 countries are involved in the project: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. Through this collaboration, Xt-EHR seeks to provide a coherent framework of guidelines and specifications, which will promote the seamless and secure circulation of health information within the EU, while enhancing patient safety and the effectiveness of the services provided.
The National Authority for eHealth is actively involved in the project as the body responsible for the management, regulation and provision of access to health data in Cyprus. Through its participation, the Authority has the ability to leverage best practices from other Member States, adopt high-quality technological solutions and integrate European guidelines into policy and strategy making.
The exploitation of the results of Xt-EHR will allow the Authority to formulate a comprehensive strategy for the digital transformation of the health sector in Cyprus.
At the same time, it will strengthen the capacities to design and implement modern policies that will promote sustainable development and innovation in the field of healthcare. The full and active participation of the Authority in the project strengthens its position as a reliable and active member of the European health community, contributing substantially to the broader effort for a single and efficient digital health infrastructure at European level.
Finally, it should be noted that the National eHealth Authority is expected to take full advantage of the recent adoption of the European Regulation (EU) 2025/327 on the European Health Data Space (EHDS), which was adopted in March 2025. This Regulation provides the appropriate institutional and technological framework for the development of an integrated digital infrastructure, with the aim of enhancing the provision of optimal medical care to Cypriot citizens, both at national and European level.
At the same time, the active utilization of these infrastructures by health professionals can play a decisive role in upgrading the quality of the medical services provided, as well as in optimizing the available resources through cost and human resource savings.
