Truveta joins experts in calling for public utility framework to govern health data

New peer-reviewed paper outlines model to treat real-world health data as essential infrastructure with public oversight

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Truveta has announced its participation as a contributing author to a new peer-reviewed Policy Forum article in Science that outlines a framework for treating real-world health data (RWD) as essential infrastructure, governed with the same accountability, interoperability, and public oversight as other public utilities. The paper, led by Melissa A. Haendel, PhD, and coauthored by leaders across academia, healthcare, nonprofit, and industry, argues that real-world data hold enormous promise but remain fragmented, proprietary, and inconsistently governed.

Why it matters

The proposed public utility framework aims to balance patient empowerment, innovation, and public trust, while embedding enforceable obligations and regulatory accountability. This approach seeks to ensure that health data, when stewarded ethically and governed transparently, can serve both individual patients and the broader public good, rather than being siloed assets.

The details

The article draws lessons from established public utilities such as electricity, water, and the internet, emphasizing that enforceable standards, distributed stewardship, and economic sustainability are essential to durable infrastructure. The authors contend that voluntary participation and uneven incentives have constrained the impact of existing RWD efforts and call for regulatory modernization to ensure interoperability, equitable access, and long-term investment.

  • The paper was published in the March 2026 issue of Science.

The players

Truveta

A real-world intelligence company unlocking breakthrough discoveries and transforming medicine with unprecedented data and predictive AI. Truveta is built with and owned by U.S. health systems.

Melissa A. Haendel, PhD

The lead author of the paper and a prominent expert in the field of real-world data governance.

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What they’re saying

“Real-world data are foundational to advancing evidence generation and improving patient outcomes. We are honored to join this distinguished group of authors in calling for a governance model that treats health data as essential infrastructure. Saving Lives with Data requires not only advanced analytics and high-quality datasets, but also the trust, transparency, and accountability demanded in an era of the FDA's evolving single-trial paradigm. This framework helps align policy, incentives, and stewardship to responsibly accelerate innovation while protecting patients.”

— Ryan Ahern, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of Truveta (Truveta)

“Health data are no longer byproducts of care; they are essential infrastructure for public health, research, and innovation. By governing real-world data as a public utility, we can align incentives, embed accountability, and ensure that patients and communities are the primary beneficiaries. This framework is not about centralizing control; it is about building a federated, community-driven model that balances privacy, equity, and innovation in the public interest.”

— Melissa Haendel, Lead author of the paper (Truveta)

What’s next

The proposed public utility framework for governing real-world health data will likely be a topic of ongoing discussion and debate among policymakers, healthcare stakeholders, and the broader public as they work to modernize legal and regulatory frameworks to ensure the responsible use of this valuable data resource.

The takeaway

By treating real-world health data as essential public infrastructure, governed with transparency, accountability, and a focus on the public good, this framework aims to unlock the full potential of this data to drive innovation, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen public health - while maintaining strong privacy protections and equitable access.