Health Data and Privacy
How the digitization of health records creates enormous benefits for public health but also raises serious privacy, security, and equity concerns.
The Promise of Digital Health
Digital health data has enormous potential. Electronic health records can improve care by giving providers access to complete patient histories. Aggregate health data enables surveillance of disease outbreaks, identification of risk factors, and evaluation of treatment effectiveness. During COVID-19, countries with robust health data systems could track the pandemic in near-real time, identify vulnerable populations, and allocate resources effectively. AI and machine learning applied to health data are showing promise in diagnosing diseases, predicting epidemics, and personalizing treatment.
However, health data is among the most sensitive personal information. It can reveal conditions that carry stigma (HIV, mental illness, substance use), genetic predispositions, reproductive history, and behavioral patterns. Breaches of health data can lead to discrimination in employment, insurance, and social relationships. The digitization of health records creates a target for cybercriminals: health data breaches affected over 50 million people in the US alone in 2023.