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In January 2026, Health Management, a regular journal/magazine for health professionals published the latest about the xShare yellow button, written by EHTEL digital health facilitator, Luc Nicolas. Luc’s article is entitled “A European Yellow Button to Break Silos and Empower People”. It is based on the work of the xShare project which itself promotes the article.

Want to understand the article’s highlights?

The EHDS regulation puts the citizen at the centre. The regulation provides fundamental rights which must be implemented by each European Member State. Progress has already been made. Much, however, remains to be done in most EU countries. National and regional health data-sharing infrastructures have reached different levels of maturity; while some are advanced, others are far less so. Having access to their data does not, of course, guarantee that citizens will actually “act” on their data. But the xShare yellow button does enable them to take action more easily: it permits them to download and share their data in an official format with the click of a single button. The yellow button builds entirely new bridges between clinical care, clinical research, and public health.

In his article, Luc highlights the importance of:

• The European Union (EU) European Health Data Space (EHDS) regulation in granting people new digital health rights.
• The xShare yellow button’s role in enabling people to download or share their health data, as expressed in their electronic health records.

As Luc comments: “Thanks to the xShare yellow button, the citizen can be guaranteed to access, download and share their key health information data in the compliant EU format.”

The article helps you to learn more about xShare and understand the background to health data use in example health-related use cases, like long COVID. The article also mentions data fluidity.

Other recommended reading can therefore include:

• EHTEL Working Paper 3, an EHDS implementers’ task force report, which offers a description of data fluidity. 

Want to know more about xShare and its achievements?

EHTEL will be organising an open workshop on 24 March 2026 in Brussels at the IHE Connectathon Week. The workshop is entitled, “Connecting primary and secondary use of data in the EHDS: creating the conditions for real data fluidity.”

The workshop’s emphasis on data fluidity means that speakers will offer examples of how data can be used for both primary use (the immediate health/care of the person/patient) and secondary use (e.g., public health, population health, and health policy).

The workshop will explore present and future data flows. It will focus on two use case examples, both of which include direct patient involvement: infectious diseases and long COVID.

In practical terms:

• Participation at the event is free, but registration is mandatory. Both in-person and remote (online) attendance are possible.
• Register here.  
• Access the agenda here.