Turning Citizens Rights into Real Integrated Care: The Yellow Button

A new EHTEL working paper, written for the Laurel project, focuses on “The European Health Data Space and the Yellow Button: Operationalising Citizen Rights for Integrated Long-Term Care”. It shows how EHDS data rights can be shifted from legal text into everyday care practice. The way forward is to start with a simple, citizen-controlled Yellow Button.

A virtuous circle for implementing prevention: COMFORTage publishes its latest policy brief

Health prevention has been described as an absolute priority ever since the Ottawa Charter was approved 40 years ago at a 1986 WHO conference. But the last decades have produced limited results. By linking prevention and prediction, digital health technology offers the opportunity to make a real breakthrough. In July 2026, therefore, COMFORTage, a four-year long large-scale European project, coordinated the publication of a new policy brief.

AI and healthcare: Strong elements of the 2026 State of the Union address

On 16 September 2026, Ursula von der Leyen - President of the European Commission, focused her State of the Union address on maintenance of the unity of the Union as a strong “European idea” and as a “common home”. Concrete plans for actions covered a wide swath of initiatives – including on artificial intelligence (AI) and its use for health. Other ventures included advances on the economy, energy, fair competition, peace in Europe and beyond, and democratic resilience. Practical steps emphasised going faster on actions and reducing administrative burdens.

Data That Works: EHTEL announces its 2027 Thought Leader EHTEL Symposium

“From Data Compliance to Data That Works” will be a key topic, and a real plan of action, for 2027 and beyond. The aim will be to innovate and develop value with, and in, the European Health Data Space (EHDS).

This is the topic at the very heart of EHTEL’s 2027 annual symposium for Thought Leaders.

Transforming health and care systems: resources and podcasts

A Transforming Health and Care Systems (THCS) core activity – through joint transnational calls – is to fund research and innovation projects on common priorities and topics.  Contributors have shared updates on their own research projects, and wider. Two of interest involve digital technologies in widely different clinical fields.

AI: An integrated care game changer

Artificial intelligence (AI) is top of many current agendas. Integrated care can gain a lot from this technology. ICIC26, held in Birmingham, England in 13-15 April 2026, explored how responsible AI, co-design and digital innovation can support more people-centred health and care systems.