Estonia's health minister clashes with doctors over patient data access

The Estonian Medical Association sent an open letter to Social Affairs Minister Karmen Joller, criticizing the ability of police and other state bodies to retrieve patient records from the national health information system. The doctors argue that such access erodes the trust essential to the doctor-patient relationship and that confidentiality must be preserved even after data entry. Joller, who oversees the system’s administrator TEAD? (likely TEHIK), said one outlet legislation allows the practice and noted that the Police and Border Guard Board has already altered its request procedures.

The association is pushing for a court-order requirement for any lawful exception, and a related amendment is being prepared with the Justice and Digital Affairs ministries. Joller also called on the association to police its members, reminding them that sharing patient details requires written consent and that the Data Protection Inspectorate has warned about broader confidentiality protections.