Leveraging European Health Data Space (EHDS) for Safer and Smarter European Travel

Abstract

Health tourism is rapidly expanding, driven by the demand for high-quality medical and wellness services across borders. This growth introduces complex challenges related to data security, interoperability, and trust. The European Health Data Space (EHDS) aims to create a unified framework for secure health data exchange within the EU, offering significant potential to enhance safe and smart health tourism. This study develops a theoretical foundation through a multi-case approach (three cases) to examine how EHDS can be leveraged in this context. Data were collected through document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation. Qualitative content analysis and triangulation were used to ensure reliability. The findings highlight that technical interoperability alone is insufficient; robust cybersecurity and continuous professional education are essential for building trust and resilience. Furthermore, innovation clusters emerge as key enablers, fostering collaboration between healthcare providers, technology firms, and educational institutions. The study concludes by identifying research gaps and proposing future directions, including empirical evaluation of EHDS implementation, IoMT security and the impact of competence development initiatives. By integrating technology, policy and education, Europe can establish a secure and patient-centric digital health ecosystem that supports sustainable growth in health tourism.