Data protection: LNS takes care of strict compliance with highest international standards

Data protection is a crucial issue, especially in the healthcare sector. Patient data is sensitive data, which is why LNS has always paid particular attention to its protection. Since 2018 and the entry into force of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), patients, staff and partners have benefitted from a Data Protection Officer (DPO) – a dedicated expert, looking after their data. In 2022, the function was internalized in order to meet a constantly further growing demand.

Protection against unauthorised access, transparent access for patients

The DPO is currently performed by Géraldine Bolet. She came on board in 2021 and from the get-go, was primarily entrusted with the topic of legal and especially data protection in the LNS Legal Affairs Service. In her previous professional positions, the trained lawyer also worked primarily in the research environment or around the topic of data protection. Given the experience that she had under her belt, Géraldine was an obvious choice when it came to internalizing the function of Data Protection Officer last year – and thus meeting a growing demand.

“In the age of digital medicine, the topic of data security is becoming increasingly important, since from a technological point of view, patient data can be forwarded at the click of a button, so to speak. Therefore, strict legal regulation and maximum patient rights are of utmost importance. On the one hand, we ensure that sensitive information does not fall into the wrong hands. And on the other hand, we allow patients transparent access to their data based on valid standards.”

Significant increase in patient requests since the COVID-19 pandemic

At the heart of these legal standards is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The GDPR, which was drafted by the EU and came into force in 2018, is the strictest data protection and security law in the world and applies to all organisations worldwide that target or collect data on people in the EU. Géraldine Bolet: ” GDPR provides us with a clear legal framework that actually leaves no questions unanswered. The concrete implementation initially entailed a certain amount of effort in many places, but this has paid off in terms of compliance and transparency for everyone involved.”

The usefulness of legally compliant data protection became particularly visible during the COVID-19 pandemic, continues Géraldine Bolet: “Over the course of the Corona crisis, the number of enquiries on the topic of data protection increased drastically. Our aim is to deal with these requests individually and in accordance with the legal framework.” It was also against this background that the decision matured to create a contact point at LNS dedicated exclusively to the topic of data protection: “As a reference laboratory in several areas and with a view to our further development, GDPR compliance represents a central criterion. And with digitisation progressing extremely fast, data protection will continue to be a priority at LNS.”