What does the NCPeH do?
A bridge between countries
Each EU Member State operates its own NCPeH, which connects national healthcare systems with those of other countries. This makes it possible, for example, for a Hungarian ePrescription to be dispensed abroad, or for a healthcare professional in another Member State to access a patient summary when medically necessary.
The engine of secure data exchange
The NCPeH ensures that cross-border health data exchange is:
- secure
- standardised
- properly authenticated
Without this infrastructure, MyHealth@EU could not function.
The entry point to MyHealth@EU
When a country joins cross-border digital health services—such as ePrescription or Patient Summary exchange—it does so through its NCPeH.
The NCPeH is responsible for:
- technical integration
- testing and validation
- compliance with European requirements
- day-to-day operation of services
Invisible, yet essential infrastructure
Patients do not interact directly with the NCPeH—there is no interface or visible system element.
However, without it, the connection between European healthcare systems would not be possible. It is a foundational component of Europe’s digital health ecosystem.