Most European countries have made significant progress in providing citizens with access to electronic health records (EHR), yet disparities remain and digital health literacy continues to lag in many regions.
Digital health services gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic, when countries rapidly expanded teleconsultations. Since then, remote care has remained an important feature of healthcare systems. Access to electronic records is seen as central to this transformation, enabling faster, safer and more coordinated treatment. At the same time, digital literacy ensures people can confidently find, understand and use health information online.
The European Union has set a target that by 2030 all citizens should have access to their electronic health records. According to the European Commission’s “Digital Decade 2025: eHealth Indicator Study – Final Report,” access across the EU reached 83 per cent in 2024, up from 79 per cent in 2023 and 72 per cent in 2022.
Performance varies widely among the 27 EU member states, along with Norway and Iceland. Belgium and Estonia lead the ranking with full scores of 100 per cent. Denmark follows at 98 per cent, while Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Norway also score above 90 per cent.
At the other end of the scale, Ireland records the lowest score at 25 per cent, making it a clear outlier. The Netherlands ranks second lowest at 65 per cent, while Slovakia, Greece, Romania and Cyprus fall closer to the lower end of the table. All EU countries except Ireland currently provide access to health data through an online portal, which explains the gap. However, Dublin has recently approved procurement for a National Electronic Health Record system, described by the health minister as a major step towards safer and more connected care.
While infrastructure is improving, digital health literacy remains a concern. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s “Health at a Glance 2025” report shows that many Europeans lack confidence in navigating online health information. Among primary care users aged 45 and over in 17 OECD countries, digital health literacy stood at 18 per cent for those with lower education levels and 26 per cent for the higher educated in 2024.
Czechia leads in digital health literacy among the higher educated at 53 per cent, followed by Wales in the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands. In contrast, Italy and Romania report particularly low levels across education groups.
Experts stress that trust and usability are essential for encouraging people to use digital tools. David Novillo Ortiz of the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe said countries with strong electronic record systems are better positioned to expand teleconsultations, highlighting the link between infrastructure and effective digital care.
