Privacy, Policy, and Progress: Reviewing the Regulatory Landscape in Health Informatics

Abstract

Because of health informatics, digital systems can now gather, analyze and trade health information. Nevertheless, using new technologies such as electronic health records, artificial intelligence and telehealth brings up important issues related to data privacy, proper use and being controlled by rules. It reviews basic health informatics principles and studies international rules, like HIPAA and GDPR, pointing out the difficulties in fulfilling these rules and the need for similar regulations. It also deals with ethical issues about consent, who owns data and the bias found in algorithms, as well as rules that ensure both progress and responsibility. AI, block chain and remote monitoring have huge potential, but to avoid problems, strong guidelines should be adopted. The review underlines how adaptive and inclusive governance guarantees progress in health informatics by focusing on patients’ rights and technology at the same time.