Belgium's new vision for healthcare registries: Are you ready for the future?

A transformative vision for Belgian healthcare data

In March 2025, the Belgian government released a groundbreaking vision note that outlines a complete transformation of how medical registries operate in Belgium. This document, signals a fundamental shift away from traditional centralized medical registries toward a federated data system.

As a healthcare provider, hospital IT manager, or data scientist, understanding this vision is crucial for your future operations. Let's explore what this means and how Tiro.health positions you ahead of these coming changes.

What's changing? From centralized to federated data

Belgium is moving away from the traditional model of centralized data collection. According to the vision document (p.4), the future of Belgian healthcare registries will be based on the principles of federated data sharing and processing, replacing the current model where data is centralized in electronic databases at a single location.

This federated approach means that instead of sending all your data to centralized databases, your organization will maintain control of your data while making it accessible through standardized protocols. Data will remain at its original source but be available for authorized access when needed. This represents a fundamental shift in how healthcare data is managed across Belgium.

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The emphasis on structured data at source

A cornerstone of this new vision is the requirement for structured data capture directly at the source—where healthcare happens. The vision document places significant emphasis on data holders being actively encouraged to proactively make high-quality healthcare data available (p.5).

Most importantly, the policy specifies that data in electronic patient records must be standardized and interoperable, with additions made directly in the electronic patient record rather than via unstructured reports (p.6). This focus on structured data at the point of care creates both a challenge and an opportunity for healthcare providers.

The vision also emphasizes retrieval of registry data directly from electronic patient records (EPD)  wherever possible (p.5), underscoring the need for robust data capture solutions integrated with existing clinical systems.

Alignment with European Health Data Space

This vision isn't developing in isolation. It's explicitly designed to align with European regulatory developments. The document states from the outset (p.1) that the vision aims for maximum alignment with the European Health Data Space (EHDS) regulation regarding access to and exchange of electronic health data for both primary and secondary use.

The EHDS regulation takes effect on March 26, 2027, giving healthcare organizations a clear timeline to prepare for these new requirements. By adopting structured data solutions now, organizations can ensure they're not scrambling to comply as the deadline approaches.

Permanent vs. temporary registries

The vision document introduces an important distinction between two types of registries (p.5):

Permanent registers will be continuously maintained for operational policy purposes. These will be established within a legal framework and contain a predefined set of variables focused on efficiency.

Temporary registers will be created on an ad hoc basis for scientific research or specific policy questions. These typically have a broader scope and are made available to data users based on a data permit with a limited time frame.

Both types of registries will rely on high-quality structured data captured at the source, which underscores the importance of implementing robust data capture solutions now.

Stay ahead with Tiro.health

At Tiro.health, we've anticipated this direction for years. Our structured data capture solution already addresses the key requirements outlined in this vision document:

1. Structured data capture at source - Our intuitive application enables healthcare providers to capture standardized data during their normal workflow
2. SNOMED CT integration - Built-in terminology server ensures your data is properly coded and standardized
3. FHIR compatibility - Our system uses the modern standards mentioned in the vision document
4. EHR integration - Seamless connection with your existing systems
5. Reduced administrative burden - More efficient documentation that saves time while producing higher quality data

By implementing Tiro.health now, you're not just solving today's documentation challenges—you're preparing for the regulatory requirements of tomorrow.

The road ahead

The government's vision note is clear that this transition will be gradual. The document states (p.1) that this vision forms the basis for a gradual transition to a registry policy based on federated data in the medium term.

While full implementation may take time, forward-thinking healthcare organizations are already beginning this journey. The vision note specifically acknowledges ongoing Data Capabilities projects and innovation projects from the FPS Public Health that are already focused on establishing data networks for structured and standardized data exchange (p.8).

These existing initiatives provide a foundation for the broader transformation envisioned in the document, suggesting that early adopters of structured data solutions will be better positioned for the transition.

FAIR principles and data quality

The vision emphasizes the importance of FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) for health data. According to the document (p.9), facilitators will be responsible for enforcing these FAIR principles and ensuring that data holders link clear descriptions to their health data.

This focus on data quality and standardization aligns perfectly with Tiro.health's approach to structured data capture, which ensures that information is captured in a standardized, interoperable format from the start.

Conclusion: Be prepared, not surprised

This vision document makes it clear—structured data capture at source is not just a nice-to-have; it's becoming a regulatory expectation. By implementing Tiro.health now, you're taking a proactive step toward compliance with these forthcoming requirements.

Our technology doesn't just prepare you for the future; it delivers immediate benefits in efficiency, data quality, and clinical insights. The healthcare organizations already using Tiro.health will find themselves well-positioned when these vision document principles become mandatory requirements.

Don't wait until regulatory deadlines force your hand. Contact Tiro.health today to learn how we can help you navigate the changing landscape of healthcare data in Belgium.