Commission seeks around 80 members for European Health Data Forum

The European Commission is seeking around 80 members for a forum that will bring together the experience of patients, doctors, researchers and industry in implementing the European Health Data Space. Applications must be submitted by 10 December 2026, and the selection is open to organisations and certain public entities that can demonstrate relevant experience in the field of health data.

In brief The forum will make recommendations on access to health data, its quality and the exchange of information between systems, for healthcare and research. Around 80 eligible organisations and public entities are targeted, with renewable three-year mandates. Applications must be sent by email by 10 December 2026 and include a letter of motivation and two signed forms. Romanian is accepted. Participation is unpaid, and representatives must be able to work in English. Some travel and subsistence expenses may be reimbursed. The EHDS Community is a separate network, also open to individuals. Joining the community does not replace selection for the forum.

The call announced on 13 October concerns a stage in preparing for the use of health data in the European Union. The forum will provide recommendations to the Commission and the EHDS Board on the issues faced by those who produce, manage and use this information, from system interoperability to data quality and the use of artificial intelligence.

For patients, the EHDS is about access to and control over their own health information and the possibility of using it in healthcare, including across borders. For research and public policy, the regulation establishes a pathway for the reuse of data for permitted purposes and under permitted conditions. The forum’s role is advisory, and membership does not automatically grant access to patient records.

The selection aims to ensure a balance among five categories of interests covering citizens, patients and consumers; healthcare providers and ecosystems; industry and standardisation bodies; research and academia; and eligible public entities. Patient organisations, professional associations, service providers and research institutions in Romania can use these categories and the experience criteria in the call as a guide.

Members will be organisations, classified as type C, and public entities other than Member State authorities, classified as type E. Organisations will appoint their representatives. An individual application by a doctor or researcher is not equivalent to an application by their organisation. DG SANTE will assess relevant experience, representatives’ skills and their ability to participate actively in English.

The Director-General of DG SANTE will appoint members for three years, with the possibility of renewing their mandate. Type C organisations must be listed in the Transparency Register before appointment, but they may apply even if they are not yet registered when they submit their application. The regulation also provides for an annual public declaration of interests by forum members.

The application must contain a letter explaining the motivation and proposed contribution, the classification form in Annex I and the form on the selection criteria in Annex II. Documents must be complete, legible, signed and consecutively numbered, and the organisation must indicate its proposed representatives. Applications must be sent to [email protected] by 10 December 2026.

Applications may be drafted in any official EU language, including Romanian. English facilitates evaluation, and for an application in another language, the Commission recommends an English summary. The forum’s working documents and meetings will, in principle, be in English.

There is a practical uncertainty for type E public entities. Although the call admits them, the published classification form explicitly offers only the option for type C organisations. Entities wishing to apply under category E can ask DG SANTE for clarification on how to complete the form, using the same address indicated in the call for further information.

Participation involves contributing to discussions, preparing and reviewing documents, an annual general assembly held in hybrid format and regular online meetings. The activity is unpaid. The Commission may reimburse travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with its rules and within the limits of available funds.

In parallel, the EHDS Community on the EU Health Policy Platform offers exchanges of experience, resources and participation in discussions and events. This network is open both to organisations and to individuals working with health data, under the platform’s conditions. Participation in the community is separate from appointment to the forum.

The EHDS Regulation has a general date of application of 26 March 2027, with important stages in 2029 and 2031. The exchange of the first priority categories, such as patient summaries and electronic prescriptions, is planned from 2029, while medical images and laboratory results will follow in the 2031 stage. The forum’s recommendations will contribute to preparing for this transition.