Access to data can boost innovation in healthcare. But how can we ensure patient rights are protected? December 31, 2020 Covid-19 has offered the healthcare sector a great opportunity to educate both policy makers and the general public about the importance of data in developing innovative medical solutions. But there are still obstacles to making that data available to those who need it most. The equation is simple: data increases the ability of the healthcare sector to predict and deal with epidemics, cure disease and improve the quality of life. Data replaces guess work and allows researchers, clinicians and hospital staff to make informed decisions based on real-world cases, while aggregating data from different areas, different regions, different countries, and allows medical professionals to see the bigger picture.