Nõusolekukontroll

Nõusolekukontroll is a procedural framework used in Estonia for managing and verifying patient consent in the health sector. The term combines the Estonian word “nõusolek,” meaning consent, with “kontroll,” meaning control or verification. It is designed to ensure that electronic health records and related data are accessed only with explicit, documented permission from patients.

The framework is integrated into the Estonian electronic health record system (EHR) and the national health data portal. When a healthcare professional wants to access or share patient information, the system prompts for a confirmation of consent. If the patient had previously granted consent for a particular type of use—such as treatment, research, or data sharing with third parties—this is automatically confirmed. If no consent is recorded, the practitioner must either obtain new consent or follow a predefined exception procedure. Audit logs record every consent check, providing transparency and accountability.

Nõusolekukontroll is governed by Estonian data privacy laws, including the Personal Data Protection Act and the Health Information Act, and aligns with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The system aids compliance by ensuring that privacy rights are upheld and that patients maintain control over their personal health information. It also facilitates trust in digital health services, which is essential for the continued expansion of telemedicine and data-driven research initiatives in Estonia. The approach is considered a model for other countries looking to balance data accessibility with stringent privacy protections.