A new article by Luc Nicolas, titled “A European Yellow Button to Break Silos and Empower People” published by HealthManagement.org examines the concept of a European “yellow button” as a practical instrument to support citizen empowerment and cross-sector data sharing within the framework of the European Health Data Space (EHDS).
The publication outlines how the EHDS Regulation strengthens individuals’ rights to access, download, manage, and share their electronic health data in a structured and interoperable manner through the European Electronic Health Record exchange Format (EEHRxF). These rights extend beyond the scope of the General Data Protection Regulation by focusing specifically on health data, including transparency on data access, the ability to request corrections, and the possibility to grant proxy access.
Despite the regulatory progress, the article notes that implementation across Member States remains uneven. Many national health systems still face technical and organisational barriers that limit seamless data access for citizens. In this context, the xShare “yellow button” is presented as a concrete solution to bridge existing gaps.
The yellow button enables individuals to download selected health data or generate secure, time-limited links to share their information with authorised parties such as healthcare providers, researchers, or public health authorities. By placing citizens at the centre of data exchange, the tool supports interoperability while respecting privacy, security, and user control.
The article further highlights the broader impact of this approach. Person-driven data sharing has the potential to break down silos between healthcare delivery, research, and public health, enabling more efficient care pathways, improved research participation, and stronger evidence generation at population level.
Currently being piloted in several European countries, the xShare yellow button demonstrates how regulatory principles can be translated into practical, user-facing solutions. The publication concludes that such tools may play a crucial role in realising the objectives of the EHDS and advancing a more connected, patient-centred European health data ecosystem.
Read the full publication here.