Health data, ethics, and governance: pathways to the common good in global health in contexts of power asymmetries, accelerated digitalization, and health vulnerabilities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20386148Keywords:
Electronic Health Records. Global Health. Ethics. Health Governance. Technical Cooperation.Abstract
Introduction: The exponential growth of health data, including electronic health records and information collected outside traditional healthcare settings, presents unprecedented opportunities and ethical challenges for global health. Accelerated digitalization and the influence of technology corporations increase vulnerabilities and inequalities, demanding a reassessment of health governance frameworks, particularly in contexts marked by power asymmetries. Objective: This study aims to analyze the ethical and governance challenges arising from the expansion of health data ecosystems in global health and to propose pathways oriented toward the common good, ensuring that data-driven initiatives reduce vulnerabilities and promote equity. Methodology: A qualitative literature review was conducted, covering studies, reports, and policy documents published between 2015 and 2025. Selection criteria included relevance, currency, and reliability, focusing on types of data, actors involved, trends in data collection and circulation, and the role of health data in surveillance and crisis response. Results and Discussion: Findings reveal that power asymmetries shape the production, control, and use of health data, highlighting practices of data colonialism that limit local autonomy and reinforce global inequalities. The increasing use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence offers opportunities for epidemiological surveillance and innovation but raises ethical risks related to privacy, commercial exploitation, and digital exclusion. Governance models oriented toward the common good require transparency, social participation, protection of vulnerable populations, and international cooperation to ensure equitable distribution of the benefits of health data. Conclusion: Implementing participatory and ethical health data governance frameworks is essential to strengthen local sovereignty, reduce inequalities, and establish a foundation for health data justice. Such approaches ensure that health data advance collective well-being and contribute to a more equitable global health landscape.
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