The Sector Committee of Social Security and of Health
The Sector Committees are dependent on the Commission and were created to
provide an expert answer to questions concerning very specialized matters.
The Sector Committee of Social Security and of Health was established within the
Commission by the Belgian Act of 15 January 1990. The Committee protects the
insured's privacy when their personal data are processed in the Belgian Social
Security network. It also supervises the disclosure of health-related data in
particular.
Authorizations, opinions and recommendations
The Privacy Act describes with great precision how and in which circumstances personal data may be processed or disclosed. Some processing operations are so delicate, however, that they are only possible with specific authorization.
Public authorities or private institutions working in the general interest can submit a request for authorization to the Commission, which will then decide which Sectoral committee has to deal with it. The request also has to specify:
- why access to the data is necessary;
- who has to have access to the data;
- how long access is necessary.
The Sector Committee will examine the request in detail and weigh the citizen's interests before it grants authorization (permission) or refuses to do so.
The Sector Committee of Social Security and of Health will also issue opinions and make recommendations in very specific and technical matters.
