Digital health across Europe: Which country leads access to electronic health records and literacy?

Euronews · Feb 23, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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Digital health across Europe: Who is ahead in access to electronic records access and literacy? Digitalising health systems in Europe: Who is ahead in records access and literacy? Digital transformation of European health systems: Access to health records and digital health literacy Digital health services are becoming increasingly important across Europe. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed many countries to launch or expand remote consultations. Since then, teleconsultations have continued to grow. Access to electronic health records and digital health literacy are central to the digital transformation of health systems. Records enable faster, safer, high-quality and more coordinated treatment. Literacy ensures that people can access, understand and use health information and services with confidence. The European Union (EU) has set a target for eHealth. By 2030, 100 percent of EU citizens should have access to their electronic health records. However, levels vary widely across Europe. So, which countries perform best when it comes to access to electronic health records? And how digitally literate are Europeans in managing their health online? According to the European Commission’s ‘Digital Decade 2025: eHealth Indicator Study-Final Report’, access to electronic health records (EHR) in the EU reached 83 percent in 2024. This measure, known also as the composite eHealth score, uses 100 percent to represent full maturity and complete citizen access to electronic health record data. The score increased by four percentage points from 79 percent in 2023, and by 11 points compared with 72 percent in 2022. Ireland at the bottom Among 29 European countries, including the 27 EU members, including Norway and Iceland, the EHR score ranges from 25 percent in Ireland to 100 percent in Belgium and Estonia. The second-lowest score is 65 percent in the Netherlands, making Ireland an exception. Denmark (98%), Lithuania (95%), Malta (94%), Poland (92%) and Norway (91%) are also among the top performers. All scored above 90 percent. In these countries, EHR is available for a high percentage of the population, with several categories of health data available from most healthcare providers and access opportunities for certain categories of people according to the report. Portugal (88%), Spain (88%), Austria (87%), Bulgaria (87%), Croatia (87%), Germany (87%), Slovenia (87%), Hungary (86%), Latvia (86%), Finland (85%), France (84%) and Italy (84%) are all above the EU average. Slovakia (72%), Greece (74%), Romania (75%) and Cyprus (75%) are closer to the lower end of the ranking. Why does Ireland lag behind? As of 2024, all EU countries except Ireland provide access to electronic health data through an online portal, which explains why Ireland is at the bottom. However, this is set to change, as the country has recently stepped up investment in digital health. On 5 February 2026, the health minister announced government approval to begin procurement for a National Electronic Health Record. The statement described it as a major step in modernising Ireland’s health system to deliver safer, smarter and more connected care. Digital health literacy needs improvement While the availability of digital health services is important, the ability to use them is just as crucial. The Health at a Glance 2025 report published by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows there is still room for improvement. Digital health literacy, which includes confidence in finding reliable information online and understanding how to use it, remains low in many countries. It is particularly limited among older people and those with lower levels of education. Data from 17 OECD countries, mostly in Europe, show that digital health literacy remains low among primary care users aged 45 and over. In 2024, the score was 18 percent among those with lower levels of education, compared with 26 percent among the higher educated. The data covers only this age group. The scores vary significantly by country. Czechia records the highest digital health literacy among the highly educated at 53 percent, followed by Wales in the United Kingdom (46%), France (43%) and the Netherlands (31%). It surpasses 50 percent only in Czechia, even among people with higher education. These countries also rank highest among the lower educated, though at lower levels: 41 percent in Czechia, 31 percent in Wales, 24 percent in France and 21 percent in the Netherlands. Literacy scores are much lower in several countries. In Italy, the rate is 9 percent among the higher educated compared with 5 percent among the lower educated. In Romania, both groups record just 9 percent. In Belgium, the figures are 11 percent and 10 percent respectively. “Building trust is essential to encourage the active use of digital health technologies,” the report says. The share of teleconsultations in doctor consultations widely differs across Europe, too. Experts emphasised the significance of access to electronic health records to improve digital health services. “Countries with well-developed electronic health records and platforms that allow smooth data exchange can expand teleconsultation services much more easily,” David Novillo Ortiz, head of data, AI and digital health at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, told Euronews Health.