On 20 October 2026 in Brussels, we brought together European policymakers, healthcare leaders and experts for the 7th UEHP-Relyens workshop “Data in Healthcare: From Regulation to Strategic Value”.
With the implementation of the Data Act and the progressive roll out of the European Health Data Space (EHDS), healthcare organizations across Europe are entering a new era where health data is becoming both a regulatory priority and a strategic asset.
Building on previous discussions about the realities and potential of artificial intelligence, the 2026 UEHP/Relyens Workshop focused on a critical next step: transforming data from a compliance requirement into a driver of innovation, performance and better patient outcomes.
Throughout the discussions, we explored:
- The European regulatory framework: EHDS, Data Act and GDPR
- How health data can create tangible value for healthcare organisations
- Practical use cases, from health data platforms to robotic surgery
- Ethics, trust and responsible data use
- European data sovereignty, cybersecurity and digital autonomy
With contributions from the European Commission, leading experts and healthcare stakeholders, the workshop provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives, share practical experiences and explore how to turn regulatory challenges into meaningful opportunities for patients, hospitals and healthcare systems. Through practical examples, peer-to-peer discussions and interactive exchanges, participants examined how to turn regulatory obligations into strategic opportunities, strengthen care pathways through data-driven decision-making, establish scalable governance models, and balance innovation with ethics, trust and digital sovereignty.
We thank all our speakers, participants and partners for contributing to this important dialogue. A detailed report of the workshop with quotes and insights from the speaker will follow soon.
Together, let’s unlock the potential of health data to build a more innovative, trusted and patient-centred European healthcare system.
