This policy paper was written during an economic downturn towards the end of the COVID-19 crisis in Israel. It is intended for policymakers, suggesting a strategic framework for long-term planning on the research use of public medical records. The objective is to leverage the vast knowledge embedded within Israel's public healthcare system to benefit the entire population and reduce systemic health disparities.
The Problem:
Currently, ownership rights over medical records used in research, development, clinical trials, and technological innovation are not clearly defined under Israeli law. Current regulations governing public healthcare records do not address property rights or specify whether patients are entitled to share in the benefits or profits derived from medical research and development using their data. Consequently, there is no assurance that the Israeli public will benefit from the medical innovations produced through the use of their health information.
In Israel’s universal public healthcare system, medical institutions gain access to patient populations in an organized, state-directed manner. By extension, these institutions also gain access to patients' medical data. Therefore, any financial returns generated from the use of this data should be reinvested into the public healthcare system and/or directed back to the patients themselves. This approach can foster the development of advanced, socially-oriented, and accessible healthcare services.
The Proposal:
This document presents a legal and economic model tailored to the Israeli context, aiming to establish a fair and equitable system for distributing the benefits of medical big data. The model ensures that profits derived from the use of patients’ medical records are channeled back into the healthcare system to support innovation, reduce disparities, and promote accessible medical care for all.