Invasion of privacy of people living with HIV by medical institutions

By Thomas Vink, 25th January 2024

Association Stronger Together Skopje believe that the North Macedonia Ministry of Health’s data system, MojTermin leads to medical data of patients being processed and accessed by all medical professionals, without any categorization of medical data by sensitivity or legitimacy and necessity, which represents an unwarranted invasion of privacy. In particular, this increases the visibility of HIV-status of patients to medical professionals who are not directly involved in the treatment for HIV or have no legitimate aim to have access to the HIV-status of patients in their electronic medical file, which often results in discrimination. The research project activities will be implemented by the Association Stronger Together, in consultation with the Agency for Electronic Health and other relevant institutions.

Association Stronger Together Skopje are preparing for litigation challenging medical institutions in North Macedonia for discrimination and violations of the right to privacy of people living with HIV. Specifically, Association Stronger Together Skopje are planning to make a complaint against the Ministry of Health before the Agency for Data Protection (the data protection authority for North Macedonia).

Invasion of privacy of people living with HIV by medical institutions

Organisation Name

Association STRONGER TOGETHER Skopje

Country/Jurisdiction

North Macedonia

Grant Amount

EUR 16,478

Current Status

Ongoing

Grant type

Pre-litigation Research Support

Description

Association Stronger Together Skopje believe that the North Macedonia Ministry of Health’s data system, MojTermin leads to medical data of patients being processed and accessed by all medical professionals, without any categorization of medical data by sensitivity or legitimacy and necessity, which represents an unwarranted invasion of privacy. In particular, this increases the visibility of HIV-status of patients to medical professionals who are not directly involved in the treatment for HIV or have no legitimate aim to have access to the HIV-status of patients in their electronic medical file, which often results in discrimination. The research project activities will be implemented by the Association Stronger Together, in consultation with the Agency for Electronic Health and other relevant institutions.

Association Stronger Together are preparing for litigation challenging medical institutions in North Macedonia for discrimination and violations of the right to privacy of people living with HIV. Specifically, Association Stronger Together are planning to make a complaint against the Ministry of Health before the Agency for Data Protection (the data protection authority for North Macedonia).

"MojTermin leads to medical data of patients being processed and accessed by all medical professionals, without any categorization of medical data by sensitivity or legitimacy and necessity, which represents an unwarranted invasion of privacy"

Strategic Goal

  • To open a dialogue and discussion on how medical data is processed, accessed and used and how illegitimate access to medical data can lead to discrimination.
  • To limit the unnecessary processing of medical data of patients, including people living with HIV, by medical professionals and subsequently, decrease the number of cases where the HIV-status of a patient is disclosed to third persons.

Media and related links

To be added as the project progresses

Organisation Name

Women’s Link Worldwide

Image credit: Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash