How can population health research benefit from a European Health Data Infrastructure?

Abstract

Abstract Health is a cross-border issue, recently demonstrated by the COVID-19 public health crisis. Now more than ever, the healthiness of European populations requires the use of the full capacity of the European research community to generate evidence in these uncertain times for better health system preparedness and pragmatic approaches to interventions in the health care system. However, data on population health is fragmented across institutions, projects and research networks. To bring evidence and scientific consensus to the attention of policy makers and inform their actions, researchers should have facilitated access to high quality comparative data to answer urgent research questions and the generation of new research hypotheses; improved streamlining of research efforts and international comparison; learning through exchange and priority-setting. Population Health Information Research Infrastructure (PHIRI) for COVID-19 facilitates research and supports policy making across Europe through the implementation of a research infrastructure to generate the best available evidence for research on health and well-being of populations as impacted by COVID-19. PHIRI will form a cornerstone of the emerging European Health Data Space, as there is a need to pilot the premises of sustainable federated research infrastructure that will ultimately contribute to improved population health.