Health Data Interoperability: Why It Is the Top Priority for French Hospitals in 2026

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This article analyzes why health data interoperability has become the top priority for French hospitals by 2026. What was once a discussion topic is now a regulatory obligation, a clinical emergency, and a competitive necessity. The background highlights that hospital information systems (HIS) in France are often fragmented, with patient data scattered across multiple incompatible systems (EHRs, labs, imaging). This fragmentation leads to medical errors, redundant tests, and significant annual costs. The urgency for 2026 is driven by regulatory pressures. The 'Ségur du Numérique en Santé' program mandates the adoption of the FHIR standard for all funded vendors. Furthermore, the European Health Data Space (EHDS) regulation reinforces this trajectory with a 2027–2028 horizon. Technologically, adopting the FHIR standard is crucial for structuring data. Combining FHIR with blockchain technology is presented as an advanced solution to ensure sovereign, secure, and GDPR-compliant information exchange. The article advises CIOs to start by auditing existing data exchange flows, warning that inaction will double technical debt and increase cyber risk.