HL7 Europe and IHE-Europe open coordinated ballots for European FHIR Implementation Guides developed jointly in the EURIDICE collaboration
Brussels, 27 March 2026 – HL7 Europe and IHE-Europe announced the opening of two new ballots for European FHIR Implementation Guides (IGs) for the EHDS. The two IGs, namely for the Imaging Study Report and the EU Health Data API, have been developed jointly by the two organisations as part of their EURIDICE collaboration.
Anyone is invited to submit comments (instructions are available below). At the same time, official ballot votes may only be cast by HL7 Europe affiliates (for the HL7 part) and by the National Deployment Committees and identified contacts (for the IHE-Europe part). The deadline for ballots and comments is 30 April 2026. The IGs under ballot include:
- HL7 Europe Imaging Study Report FHIR Implementation Guide (R4)
Implementation Guide: https://hl7.eu/fhir/imaging/1.0.0-ballot/
Ballot type: STU1 Ballot (1.0.0-ballot)
Submit comments: https://jira.hl7.org/
Cast vote: https://confluence.hl7.org/x/CgZRGg - EU Health Data API FHIR Implementation Guide (1.0.0-ballot)
Implementation Guide: https://hl7.eu/fhir/health-data-api/1.0.0-ballot
Submit comments: https://jira.hl7.org/
Cast vote: https://confluence.hl7.org/x/iwVRGg
Both of these FHIR IGs define sets of EHR functionalities that meet the Interoperability Component requirements of the European Health Data Space regulation ((EU) 2025/327). They describe how existing IHE profiles and other specifications can be used to enable secure exchange of electronic health data between systems, and show how these EHR functionalities can be used in real-world data exchange for EHDS use cases.
Both IGs were developed in the EURIDICE collaboration, a joint HL7 Europe and IHE-Europe initiative focused on creating well-architected, implementable and testable specifications offered to the European Commission for being referenced in the EHDS Implementing Acts. These technical specifications seek to combine HL7’s FHIR expertise with the IHE methodology, and facilitate alignment with EU-funded projects, national priorities, and Standards Developing Organization (SDO). More information about EURIDICE is available at https://euridice.org/.
How to comment or contribute?
- Go to https://jira.hl7.org/
- (Register for a free user account, authenticate…)
- When in, click on “Create” and in the following issue interface with drop-down lists
- Under “Project” select “FHIR Specification Feedback” (default choice)
- Under “Issue” select change request: Technical correction, comment…)
- Under “Specification” type “EU” and select the relevant IG
- Then enter your comments; add relevant attachments if applicable
- In the end, don’t forget to click “Create”
For a full set of instructions go to https://confluence.hl7.org/x/4AAkAQ
For an explanatory video from HL7 Europe Technical Lead Giorgio Cangioli, go to the recording of the 13 June 2025 webinar on “The HL7 Europe Imaging Study FHIR IG and how to contribute”: click here. (The link starts at minute 40 of the recording but the entire webinar may be helpful).
About HL7 Europe: HL7 Europe is a not-for-profit Foundation established in Brussels in 2010 with the aim to address European standardisation requirements in digital health serving as the European office of HL7 International. The mission of HL7 Europe is to provide standards that empower global health data interoperability to realise its vision of a world in which everyone can securely access and use the right health data when and where they need it. It works in close cooperation with 23 national HL7 Affiliates across Europe and supports the creation of health information technology standards that are widely and easily used enabling interoperability in healthcare.
About IHE-Europe: IHE-Europe is an independent, not for profit organisation with a mission to improve patient care by advancing the interoperability of healthcare IT systems and the appropriate sharing of relevant information. Towards that end, IHE-Europe conducts education, testing, demonstrations and other activities promoting the deployment within Europe of systems compliant with the IHE Technical Frameworks developed by IHE International. IHE-Europe interacts with relevant governmental and non-governmental organisations in Europe. It also maintains close contacts with similar initiatives around the world.
