NCP

National Contact Point

In short: Each member state will have 1 or more National Contact Points, which enable the exchange of data between members states for cross-border primary use scenarios.

NCP to NCP interoperability (between member states) uses its own sets of interoperability standards. It is intended that these be harmonized with the recommended EEHRxF specifications. In the context of EHDS the formal name for NCP is NCPeH (National Contact Point for eHealth).

Currently (mid-2025):

• Cross-border exchange historically classic IHE XDS.b by definition. It uses the XDS.b metadata model. XDS is used for Patient Summary and ePrescription CDA-based services (those currently in operation). Initial investigational efforts are however underway in MyHealth@EU to enable a migration also of these services to FHIR. (no one can however say when this will happen)
• New MyHealth@Eu FHIR-based services are not IHE XDS.b. Document search/fetch is done via DocumentReference

From recital 34: MyHealth@EU provides a common infrastructure for the Member States to ensure connectivity and interoperability in an efficient and secure way to support cross-border healthcare, without affecting Member States' responsibilities before and after the transmission of personal electronic health data through it. Member States are responsible for the organisation of their national contact points for digital health and for the processing of personal data for the purposes of the delivery of healthcare, before and after the transmission of those data through MyHealth@EU.

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Ringholm bv is a group of European experts in the field of messaging standards and systems integration in healthcare IT. We provide the industry's most advanced training courses and consulting on healthcare information exchange standards.