The metadata catalogue is one of the requirements for EU countries in the European Health Data Space regulation, which took effect in March 2025. This catalogue is to be shared with the other countries in the EU that are also in the process of creating similar metadata catalogues. Thus, the Danish metadata catalogue will become part of a common European metadata catalogue, which is a secure European infrastructure for exchanging information about health data.
The metadata catalogue will create an overview of all relevant health data from Danish data holders, including the Danish Health Data Authority, Statistics Denmark, the Danish regions, municipalities, general practitioners, universities and others. The purpose is to strengthen secondary use of health data, e.g. health research and statistics, and thereby contribute to better knowledge and treatment throughout the EU.
As part of the European Health Data Space, Denmark is establishing a so-called Health Data Access Body (HDAB), which will be responsible for access to Danish health data. An application portal will be created under the auspices of the Danish HDAB. The portal will be linked to the metadata catalogues in all participating countries, and thus it will be possible to apply for access to relevant research data from all EU countries.
The project was launched on February 1, 2024, and will run for two years with the possibility of a six-month extension.
