On 30 June xShare hosted a webinar “Buying Innovation: The Format (EEHRxF)”. The aim of the session was to explore how procurement can become a key driver of innovation and interoperability in the context of the European Health Data Space (EHDS), with particular attention to the European Electronic Health Record Exchange Format (EEHRxF). Experts from across Europe shared their experiences, challenges, and strategies for transforming procurement from a bureaucratic task into a strategic tool.
Procurement as a lever for innovation and systemic transformation
Procurement was recognised as much more than a purchasing function. It has the potential to shape healthcare innovation, especially when aligned with the goals of EHDS. Panellists stressed that:
- Innovative procurement approaches, such as Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) and Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions (PPI), enable co-creation and demand-driven innovation.
- Procurement should go beyond acquiring new technologies to support systemic changes, including digital maturity, workforce readiness, and service transformation.
- EEHRxF offers a strategic opportunity to standardise and harmonise requirements across countries, helping institutions move toward cross-border interoperability.
Challenges for (public) buyers and SMEs
Despite the enthusiasm, several barriers and pain points persist for both procurers and suppliers:
- Public buyers face challenges such as organizational diversity, differences in scale, and national biases that complicate joint procurement efforts.
- For SMEs, the procurement process remains difficult to navigate due to complex procedures, lack of awareness, resource constraints, and delayed payments.
- Variations in procurement capabilities—between, for example, large hospitals and smaller providers—limit the equitable implementation of EHDS-aligned solutions.
Opportunities: Aligning procurement with EHDS
The discussion highlighted practical steps and support mechanisms to ease the transition:
- Initiatives like HIPSS (Health Innovation Procurement Support Services) aim to provide guidance and technical assistance to public buyers.
- In some countries, EHDS and EEHRxF are already being embedded into national procurement requirements, signalling a shift from voluntary to mandatory compliance.
- Cross-border cooperation and initiatives such as Big Buyers Working Together were celebrated for creating momentum and offering peer support.
Participants agreed that procurement should not be seen as a compliance burden, but rather as a powerful enabler of better health systems, improved supplier engagement, and sustainable digital transformation.
Join the xShare Task Force on EEHRxF Procurement
Building on this rich exchange, xShare is launching a Task Force on EEHRxF Procurement. The aim is to:
- Deepen understanding of current procurement challenges.
- Share best practices and create practical guidance for healthcare institutions.
- Recommend how to embed EEHRxF into procurement strategies at local, national, and cross-border levels.
Interested in joining? Email Simon Lewerenz Simon.Lewerenz@iscte-iul.pt to express your interest.
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Written by Karolina Mackiewicz, Innovation Director, ECHAlliance – The Global Health Connector.
