As governments increasingly adopt digital health services and digital access becomes ubiquitous through internet and mobile technologies, differing approaches to personal health record (PHR) systems have become more apparent. Across countries and economic regions, successful implementation and widespread adoption have led to the emergence of de facto models that reflect local healthcare, regulatory, and societal requirements. Despite this progress, significant differences remain in system functionality, interoperability, architecture, and implementation. While foundational standards such as Health Level Seven (HL7) and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) provide a common technical framework, the design of user interactions, information governance, and functional capabilities remains largely proprietary. To advance global interoperability and standardization, a clearer distinction is needed between PHRs and patient-controlled electronic health records (EHRs). These systems differ in their ownership, control, and data-management characteristics, creating unique challenges for harmonization and interoperability. This white paper examines those challenges across three key areas and identifies opportunities for greater international alignment
- Status
- Published White Paper
- History
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- Published:
- 2026-07-28
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