Countries modernize health records while tackling complex data governance

Shared Care Records are evolving toward interoperable, longitudinal views of patient data that can be safely shared across care settings. Ireland is moving ahead with procurement for a landmark national electronic health record to replace fragmented systems and standardize digital care. In parallel, the BRIDGE pilot study examines how divergent EU–US privacy and data protection laws affect health data exchange and explores mechanisms for compliant cross-border sharing. Together, these developments show health systems pushing for integrated digital records while grappling with governance, privacy, and regulatory alignment.