Article – Building a national health data ecosystem in Greece

Our Consortium Partners from Greece, the Hellenic Digital Health Cluster (HDHC), published a new article under VELES: “Building a national health data ecosystem in Greece: Strategic pathways and readiness for the EHDS.“

This study examines the evolving digital health ecosystem in Greece within the broader context of the European Health Data Space initiative, which seeks to facilitate the secondary use of health data. Greece is currently transitioning its health data infrastructure, facing significant challenges in governance, interoperability, digital literacy, and regulatory alignment. Using a qualitative approach, the researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from various sectors, including public authorities, academia, and civil society. Thematic analysis revealed key limitations such as fragmented infrastructure, absence of centralized governance, insufficient interoperability standards, and IT workforce shortages. While national initiatives like the Electronic Prescription System and Electronic Health Record signal progress, significant barriers remain in data sharing, privacy, cybersecurity, and regulation of secondary data use. The study concludes that achieving a sustainable and interoperable health data space in Greece requires strategic policy alignment with EHDS, investment in infrastructure, and robust governance supported by stronger stakeholder engagement.

To quote:

Evangelia Salmatani, Dimitrios G. Katehakis, George Dimitriou, Angelina Kouroubali, Building a national health data ecosystem in Greece: Strategic pathways and readiness for the EHDS, Health Policy and Technology, Volume 15, Issue 5, 2026, 101199, ISSN 2211-8837, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlpt.2026.101199.