EU Partnership Agreement: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_2547

Lithuania is actively implementing Real-World Evidence (RWE) and Real-World Data (RWD) initiatives to support the implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS). These initiatives are aimed at improving healthcare provision, fostering innovation, and enhancing personalized healthcare through the secondary use of health data.

One of the key initiatives in Lithuania is the development of a national health record system. This system (created by Nortal) has transformed the nation’s healthcare landscape by digitizing and standardizing health records. This has not only reduced administrative burdens and costs but also improved transparency and opened up new opportunities for development.

In addition, Lithuania has been working on the creation of a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) system and strategy. This initiative, supported by EU funds, aims to integrate a systematic and long-term approach to HTA into the health system. The Lithuanian HTA strategy addresses the needs of a health system that is still highly centralized and governed by the Ministry of Health.

Furthermore, Lithuania is part of the EU’s €6.4 billion Partnership Agreement for 2021-2027, which will help implement country-specific recommendations in the context of the European Semester. This includes reforms and investments in healthcare, among other sectors.

The secondary use of health data is recognized as essential to realize the potentials for high-quality healthcare, improved healthcare management, reduced healthcare costs, population health management, and effective clinical research. The most common secondary use of health data today is research, which is greatly facilitated by better access to registries and other health data sources.

However, the implementation of RWE and RWD initiatives also presents challenges, particularly in terms of data security and compliance with industry-specific regulations. Therefore, prioritizing data security measures and implementing robust cybersecurity strategies are crucial.

In conclusion, Lithuania’s RWE and RWD initiatives are part of a broader effort to improve healthcare provision and outcomes, foster innovation, and enhance personalized healthcare. These initiatives are aligned with the goals of the EHDS, which aims to facilitate the exchange of health data across the EU to improve healthcare provision and outcomes.