Work Package Description

Secure identification is one of the basic requirements when it comes to access person-related health data, on regional or national levels, as well as in the European context.

The task of WP 3.6 is to find secure and internationally interoperable solutions on three levels:

• person identification / patient identification
• health care provider identification and identification of health professionals working in these entities (Authentication)
• rights management: definition of rights of health professionals (Authorization), definition of rules and procedures.

WP 3.6 has identified two options for the coordination and harmonization of identity management regulations and mechanisms across participating Member States.

• Option 1 would consist of developing new identity management specifications and right-management models to be implemented by all EU-member states.

However, the introduction of a completely new system all over Europe seems quite unrealistic, more so as CIP-specifications require that existing operative solutions are built upon. Thus, the tools to be developed and tested should support interoperability between the national systems.

• Option 2, on the other hand, would focus upon analysing and trying to connect existing national identification mechanisms. This option reflects the legal responsibilities of the Member States for their health systems, and future implementation perspectives.

For practical, technical and legal reasons, Option 2 has been selected.