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Concerns Rise Over Chinese Access to NHS Patient Data

4/18/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Chinese researchers are set to access NHS medical records of 500,000 UK patients via the UK Biobank, sparking fears of data misuse and potential espionage. While experts promise that only de-identified data will be shared, critics like former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove call for tighter controls on data sharing with China to protect patient privacy.

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Story summary

Chinese researchers are set to access NHS medical records of 500,000 UK patients via the UK Biobank, sparking fears of data misuse and potential espionage. While experts promise that only de-identified data will be shared, critics like former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove call for tighter controls on data sharing with China to protect patient privacy.