It’s hard to think of information that feels more personal than data about our own health. Yet we’re generating and monitoring more health data now than ever before. From specific technology designed to help manage certain medical conditions to home monitoring tools, there are more and more digital options to help manage patient health. The benefits are increasingly clear. Remote patient monitoring and teleconsultations have already helped to maintain a high standard of patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals and general practitioners regularly share electronic health records to help healthcare professionals get comprehensive insight into a patient’s overall health condition and thus ensure more efficient treatment between disciplines. Patients are increasingly taking advantage of the opportunity to keep a closer eye on their own health. Statistics show that the number of wearable devices and digital health tools has increased in Europe over the last years. So, how do we know this data is safe? I believe innovation and data protection can mutually reinforce each other – and digital innovation need not come at the expense of data protection and privacy. As a lawyer specialising in IT law and working in medtech, data protection laws are a key focus. Working with my team at a global medical device manufacturer, I have a bird’s eye view of the various regulations that apply in virtually every part of the world. We also work on ways we can better use data to create value for healthcare professionals and empower patients in managing their health in an increasingly connected world. Data security is one of the top priorities in the development of healthcare innovations within my company and requirements are constantly evolving with advancing technology and digitalization, particularly when we consider cloud services and connected health applications. This results in a continuous need for...