Strict data law halves medical research, Finland eyes reform

A strict data privacy law regulating the use of health records for research purposes has led to a nearly 50% drop in studies utilizing healthcare registers in Finland over the past three years. Now, changes to the law are being considered to strike a balance between data protection and easing research processes.

Enacted in 2019, the Secondary Use of Health and Social Data Act governs how patient data collected during medical visits and lab tests can be used for purposes beyond patient care, such as scientific research.