Italy's Emilia‑Romagna launches upgraded electronic health record platform

On 7 July 2026 the Emilia‑Romagna region of Italy activated a new version of the Fascicolo Sanitario Elettronico (electronic health record). The redesign includes a simplified graphical interface, a personal “taccuino” for users to record measurements, medications and notes, and progressive integration with private‑sector and contracted healthcare providers. Funding comes from the national PNRR programme, and access is secured through SPID, electronic ID cards and the national service card, complying with data‑protection regulations.

Adoption has been rapid: more than 90 % of residents in Reggio Emilia have activated the service, and the region already records the highest usage rates in Italy, with 65 % of citizens consulting their files in the past three months. Over four million fascicoli are active nationwide, and almost all general practitioners (3,300 of 3,333) now use the system.

Alongside the rollout, privacy advocates such as radiologist Dario Giacomini warn that the massive collection of health data raises surveillance concerns. Giacomini stresses that “the data should be encrypted at the source”, calling for robust architectures and independent audits to prevent hacking, dark‑web sales, or misuse of genetic and lifestyle information. The debate highlights the balance between digital health benefits and the protection of personal data for roughly 60 million Italians.