The EUDI Wallet has a direct and meaningful impact on the healthcare sector in Europe. It enables patients to securely store and share health-related credentials, such as prescriptions and insurance cards, while giving them full control over their personal data. For healthcare organizations, it also introduces new obligations around identity verification and compliance with eIDAS 2.0. This article walks through the most important questions healthcare professionals and organizations are asking right now.

What data can the EUDI Wallet store and share in healthcare?

The EUDI Wallet can store and share a range of health-related digital documents, including prescriptions, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), vaccination records, and other medical credentials. Users can choose exactly which data they share and with whom, disclosing only what is strictly necessary for a given interaction.

This selective disclosure principle is one of the most important features for healthcare. A patient visiting a pharmacy, for example, does not need to share their full medical history. They can present only the relevant prescription details, nothing more. This approach significantly reduces the risk of unnecessary data exposure and gives patients genuine control over their health information.

Large-scale pilot programs currently running across Europe are already testing prescription claiming as a specific use case. These pilots involve pharmacies and healthcare providers working together to validate how the wallet handles medical data in real-world scenarios. The insights gathered are being used to refine the technical specifications and ensure the system works reliably across borders.

Beyond prescriptions, the wallet can also carry documents that support freedom of movement within the EU, such as the EHIC. This makes cross-border healthcare access more straightforward for patients traveling or living in another Member State.

How does the EUDI Wallet change patient identification in Europe?

The EUDI Wallet changes patient identification by replacing fragmented, paper-based processes with a single, cryptographically verified digital identity. Instead of presenting a physical ID card or insurance document, patients can authenticate themselves instantly through their wallet, which is accepted across all EU Member States.

Today, patient identification in healthcare is inconsistent. Processes vary significantly between hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, and even more so across national borders. A patient seeking care in another EU country often faces administrative hurdles because their identity documents or insurance credentials are not easily recognized. The EUDI Wallet is designed to solve this directly.

Because the wallet is built on a common technical framework, a verified credential issued in one Member State can be trusted in another. This is particularly relevant for cross-border patient care, emergency treatment abroad, and telemedicine services that operate across national boundaries.

For healthcare providers, this shift also means a more reliable and efficient intake process. Manual identity checks are time-consuming and prone to error. Wallet-based verification is instant and tamper-proof, reducing administrative burden and improving the accuracy of patient records from the very first interaction.

What are the GDPR and eIDAS 2.0 compliance implications for healthcare providers?

Healthcare providers that accept or process data from the EUDI Wallet must align with both GDPR requirements and the obligations introduced by eIDAS 2.0. This means ensuring that identity verification processes respect data minimization principles, that consent is properly managed, and that only verified relying parties can request wallet data.

Under eIDAS 2.0, organizations that want to request data from a user’s wallet must register as a relying party. This registration process is designed to ensure that only trusted, verified entities can access wallet credentials. For healthcare providers, this is a significant operational step that requires preparation well in advance of any implementation.

GDPR adds another layer of responsibility. Health data is classified as a special category of personal data under GDPR, which means it carries stricter processing requirements. Healthcare organizations must be able to demonstrate a clear legal basis for processing wallet-derived health data, maintain records of processing activities, and ensure that their systems support patients’ rights, including the right to access and the right to erasure.

The good news is that the EUDI Wallet is designed with privacy by default. Because users control what they share, the technical architecture naturally supports data minimization. However, healthcare providers still need to update their internal policies, data processing agreements, and staff training to reflect these new workflows. Compliance is not automatic just because the wallet itself is privacy-preserving.

Which healthcare use cases benefit most from the EUDI Wallet?

The healthcare use cases that benefit most from the EUDI Wallet are those involving identity verification, credential sharing, and cross-border access to care. These include prescription claiming at pharmacies, accessing the European Health Insurance Card, patient onboarding at hospitals, and telemedicine identity verification.

Here is an overview of the most impactful use cases in the medical sector:

• Prescription claiming: Patients can present a verified digital prescription directly to a pharmacy, removing the need for paper documents and reducing the risk of fraud or errors.
• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC): The wallet can store a digital version of the EHIC, making it easier for patients to access healthcare services in other EU countries without carrying physical documents.
• Patient onboarding: Hospitals and clinics can verify patient identity quickly and reliably at registration, reducing intake time and improving data accuracy.
• Telemedicine services: Digital health platforms can use wallet-based identity verification to confirm who they are treating, which is particularly important for services that operate across borders.
• Access to social security and health benefits: Patients can use the wallet to prove eligibility for specific benefits or services without needing to provide extensive documentation each time.

These use cases share a common thread: they all involve a moment where identity and credentials need to be verified quickly, reliably, and in a way that respects patient privacy. The EUDI Wallet addresses all of these needs within a single, standardized framework.

What should healthcare organizations do to prepare for the EUDI Wallet?

Healthcare organizations should start preparing for the EUDI Wallet by assessing their current identity and data infrastructure, registering as a relying party under eIDAS 2.0, and updating their compliance frameworks to align with the new requirements. Early preparation reduces risk and positions organizations to benefit from the wallet from day one.

Here is a practical sequence of steps to get started:

1. Conduct an internal readiness assessment: Map out your current patient identification and data sharing processes to identify where the EUDI Wallet will have the most impact.
2. Understand the relying party requirements: Review what is needed to register as a trusted relying party under eIDAS 2.0, so your organization can legally request and accept wallet credentials.
3. Review your GDPR compliance posture: Update your data processing agreements, privacy notices, and internal policies to reflect wallet-based data flows, particularly for special category health data.
4. Engage your IT and security teams: Ensure your systems can integrate with wallet-based authentication and that your security architecture supports the required assurance levels.
5. Train relevant staff: Clinical and administrative staff need to understand how the wallet works and what it means for their day-to-day interactions with patients.
6. Follow the pilot program outcomes: The large-scale pilots testing healthcare use cases, including prescription claiming, are producing valuable insights. Stay informed about their findings to shape your own implementation approach.

Starting now, in 2026, gives healthcare organizations a meaningful advantage. The regulatory framework is maturing, and organizations that have already aligned their processes will be far better positioned than those that wait for full enforcement before acting. For more sector-specific context, the healthcare sector overview provides a useful starting point.

How TrustTech helps healthcare organizations prepare for the EUDI Wallet

Navigating the EUDI Wallet as a healthcare organization involves technical, regulatory, and operational challenges that are difficult to tackle without the right expertise. TrustTech specializes in exactly this transition, helping healthcare providers move from awareness to implementation in a structured and confident way.

Working with TrustTech, healthcare organizations can expect support across the full preparation journey:

• Regulatory alignment: Practical guidance on eIDAS 2.0 and GDPR obligations specific to the healthcare context, including relying party registration and data minimization requirements.
• Technical integration: Support for connecting existing systems and workflows to EUDI Wallet infrastructure, including verifiable credentials and trust service components.
• Compliance frameworks: Help building or updating internal policies, data processing agreements, and governance structures to reflect the new digital identity landscape.
• Implementation roadmaps: Clear, actionable plans tailored to your organization’s size, structure, and current digital maturity, so you know exactly what to do and when.

Whether you are just starting to explore what the digital identity solutions landscape looks like for healthcare, or you are ready to move into active preparation, TrustTech provides the expertise to guide you forward. Explore our implementation approach or take a look at how we work with organizations in regulated healthcare environments. Ready to take the next step? Get in touch with TrustTech and let us help you prepare for the future of digital identity in healthcare.