Digitalisation in healthcare

Embracing opportunities

Digitalisation has already caused substantial changes in many areas of social life and the economy. It also offers major opportunities for healthcare: not only in accelerating communication and making administrative procedures more efficient, as well as abolishing faxes and printed forms, but also, for example, when it comes to the accessibility of patient data whenever and wherever they are needed as a prerequisite for high-quality, effective and people-centred treatment. Digital technologies ensure the German healthcare system remains fit for the future.

In addition, the systematic and secure evaluation of health data makes it easier to detect diseases, facilitates individualised treatment and presents novel opportunities for healing. The use of mobile apps offers opportunities for patients to play a self-determined role in treatment-related decision-making as well as to strengthen their health literacy.

Key aspects of the digital transformation

In recent years, the Federal Ministry of Health put in place the necessary framework and is substantially advancing the digital transformation – always with the aim of enhancing healthcare provision across all levels in Germany. Moreover, the necessary structures for modern healthcare and data-based care are being established, people’s everyday care is being simplified with a focus on their needs, and concrete, tangible value is created for patients, their relatives as well as for doctors and other service providers.

Key projects in this context include in particular the operational stability of the telematics infrastructure (TI), the continuing development of various applications such as the electronic patient record (ePA for everyone), the electronic prescription (e-prescription), enhanced interoperability, preparatory work for digital elements of the planned primary care system and expanding the possibilities to draw on Health data research, innovation and healthcare provision.

The digital transformation in healthcare is progressing under the auspices of the Digitalisation Strategy, among other things through legislation, such as the Act to Accelerate the Digitalisation of the Healthcare System (Digital Act – DigiG), the Act on the Improved Use of Health Data (Health Data Use Act – GDNG) and the Act on Data and Digital Innovation in Healthcare (GeDIG). The core objective of the Digital Act was to set up an electronic patient record (ePA) for all persons with statutory health insurance, while the Health Data Use Act is focused on advancing and improving the use of data for research and innovation in healthcare. The GeDIG addresses numerous aspects from the advancement of the digitalisation strategy and comprises measures for nearly all digitalisation-relevant topics relating to the healthcare system.

In addition to the development and expansion of infrastructure and the establishment of digital services and applications, important steps were taken for the digital advancement of the healthcare system. These include setting up the Health Data Lab (HDL) at the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices and developing the interoperability directory of the Society for Telematics Applications (gematik) into a knowledge platform.

Concrete practical insights are also gained through testing digital innovations in healthcare, for instance in the context of the Innovation Fund, experimental pilot projects or through other funding measures that focus on particular regions or topics.

National Health Portal

The National Health Portal gesund.bund.de provides citizens in Germany with evidence-based, non-biased and easy-to-understand information on selected health topics, disease patterns and treatment options. This enables them to make informed decisions together with their doctor. The aim is to permanently raise awareness about health topics and thus contribute towards boosting health literacy and improving patient sovereignty. The doctor, hospital and pharmacy search as well as the ICD and OPS code search also help to navigate the healthcare system.

The portal not only provides information on diseases, care benefits and patient rights, but also explains, among other things, the digital healthcare services available, such as the ePA, digital health applications (DiGA) or telemedicine offerings. The health portal helps citizens to correctly assess the services offered, identify individual added values and understand and make use of the different innovation steps brought about by digitalisation for themselves.

Health Data as a Key to Progress and Innovation

A high-performing and innovative healthcare system requires a strong data foundation. To advance research, development, and healthcare delivery in Germany, it is essential to strengthen Germany’s position as a hub for innovation.
To facilitate access to health data for researchers and other stakeholders — thereby enabling innovation and improving the quality of care — the Federal Government has already taken important steps. These include, in particular, the Health Data Use Act (GDNG) and, at the European level, the European Health Data Space (EHDS)..