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Health Research in a
COVID-19 Scenario
Data protection officer
Ricard Martínez

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•
Legal conditions in GDPR and e-Privacy Directive for processing data for health and research
purposes in a pandemic scenario.
1. Research on personal (health) data which consists in the use of data directly collected for the purpose of
scientific studies (“primary use”).
2. Research on personal (health) data which consists of the further processing of data initially collected for
another purpose (“secondary use”).
“scientific research” in this context means “a research project set up in accordance with
relevant sector-related methodological and ethical standards, in conformity with good
practice”

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Categories of data
❑ (art. 4 GDPR) “data concerning health” means “personal data related to the physical or mental
health of a natural person, including the provision of health care services, which reveal
information about his or her health status”.
✓ Directly considered as:
o Information collected by a health care provider in a patient record.
o Information from a “self check” survey, where data subjects answer questions related
to their health (such as stating symptoms).
✓ By reference or by context
o Information that becomes health data by cross referencing with other data thus
revealing the state of health or health risks.
o Information that becomes health data because of its usage in a specific context.
▪ Socioeconomic data.
▪ Addresses in neighbourhoods with a high rate of infection.
▪ Geolocation.

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Legal Basis
❑Article 6 and Article 9 GDPR: there is no ranking between the legal bases stipulated in
the GDPR.
❑ Consent:
✓ Double check: National Law + Consent
✓ One requirement when National law allows for the processing of health data with consent.
✓ must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous, and it must be made by way of a
statement or “clear affirmative action”.
✓ Really difficult from patients with a severe disease:
o consent cannot be considered freely given if there is a clear imbalance between the data subject and
the controller.
o the data subjects should not be in a situation of whatsoever dependency with the researchers that
could inappropriately influence the exercise of their free will
✓ Additional requirements (art. 7 GDPR):
o Clearly distinguishable from the other matters, in an intelligible and easily accessible form, using clear
and plain language.
o The data subject shall have the right to withdraw his or her consent at any time.

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❑National legislations.
✓ Additional safeguards:
o Legal pre-determination.
o Definition of purposes.
o Safeguard the fundamental rights and the interests of the data subject.
o Security measures…
❑Spanish Case:
✓ Organic Law 3/2018 on the Protection of Personal Data and the Guarantee of Digital Rights (17th
additional provision. Processing of health data).
o Consent: may include wide areas linked to a medical or research specialty.
▪ Reuse is allowed for purposes or areas of research related to the area in which the initial study was scientifically integrated.
Does not applies to trials.
o Public health research in cases of epidemics.
Health authorities and public institutions with competence in public health surveillance may carry out scientific studies without
the consent of the affected persons in situations of exceptional public health relevance and seriousness
▪ Vital interests of the data subject or of another natural person… Society?
o Pseudonymized data
(i) There is an express confidentiality and commitment and no re-identification agreement.
o(ii) security measures in place to prevent re-identification and access by unauthorised third parties.
o Further safeguards:
▪ Data Protection Impact Assessment.
▪ Previous Review by the Research Ethics Committee (DPO integrated in)

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Principles:
❑ Transparency (arts. 13-14):
✓ Directly.
✓ When personal data have not been obtained from the data subject, Article 14 (3) (a) GDPR stipulates that the
controller shall provide the information “within a reasonable period after obtaining the personal data, but at the
latest within one month, having regard to the specific circumstances in which the personal data are processed”.
✓ Exemptions:
o National Law Exemption.
o the provision of such information proves impossible or would involve a disproportionate effort, in particular
for processing for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or
statistical purposes, subject to the conditions and safeguards referred to in Article 89(1).
▪ Proves impossible by the controller “compulsory”.
▪ Disproportionate effort taking into account: the number of data subjects, the age of the data…
❑ Data minimization.
✓ Volume of data.
✓ Limited storage periods.
✓ Anonymisation preference.
❑ Purpose limitation:
✓ Compatibility presumption.
✓ Consent on trials (art. 28 CTR and EU Commission FAQ).

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❑International data transfers for scientific research purposes:
✓ General rules.
✓ Exemptions.
o “transfer necessary for important reasons of public interest” and “explicit consent” may apply.
▪ Public interest: may require urgent action in the field of scientific research (to identify
treatments and/or develop vaccines vaccines).

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USE OF LOCATION DATA
❑ Location data collected by electronic communication service providers:
✓ these data can only be transmitted to authorities or other third parties if they have been anonymised by the
provider;
✓ with the prior consent of the users.
❑ Information, including location data, collected directly from the terminal equipment only :
✓ if (i) the user has given consent6 or
✓ (ii) the storage and/or access is strictly necessary for the information society service explicitly requested by the
user
❑ Derogations to the rights and obligations provided for in the “ePrivacy” Directive:
✓ national security (i.e. State security), defence, public security, and the prevention, investigation, detection and
prosecution of criminal offences or of unauthorised use of the electronic communication system
✓ Not health research, or public health
❑

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Anonymization???????

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A controlled open data environment
❑A solution built on solid pillars:
✓ Adoption of safeguards.
✓ Ensuring the legitimate origin of data and
taking into account national laws.
✓ Risk analysis of reidentification and
anonymization in two steps.
✓ Security measures: same as those applied
to personal data.
✓ Processes that ensure controlled access
without the possibility of data extraction.
✓ Legal guarantees equivalent to those of a
processor: data sharing agreements.

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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research
and innovation programme under grant agreement No 780495. Any dissemination of
results here presented reflects only the author’s view. The European Commission is
not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
www.bigmedilytics.eu