DMEA: Warken on data extraction from the electronic patient record and more

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Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken (CDU) called for faster digitalization of the healthcare system at the DMEA digital trade fair. She emphasized that digital applications must actually reach patients and service providers in their daily lives and offer tangible benefits. The draft of the already leaked “Law for Data and Digital Innovation in Healthcare” (GeDIG), currently being discussed within the federal government, is intended to provide the framework for this.

The real challenge is no longer the “whether” but the “how” of digitalization, Warken said. The goal is to bridge the gap between technical possibilities and actual use. “Even the best ideas are useless if they are not actually used.” Digital applications must be intuitive to use, integrate into existing processes, and simplify daily work. Ultimately, it is not technical feasibility that decides, but acceptance, which arises from trust, reliability, and concrete benefits. Therefore, more positive experiences with digital solutions are central. Warken also spoke from personal experience as a patient and someone with statutory health insurance.

She cited the electronic patient record (ePA) as the most important example, for which accounts have been automatically created for those with statutory health insurance since the beginning of 2025. Usage is increasing, but there is still room for improvement. The login process in particular, is too complicated for many. This is to be improved, among other things, by the “updated video identification procedure” now offered by the majority of health insurance companies, and later also with the EUDI wallet.

Prevention offers from health insurers

Warken also announced the expansion of ePA functions. In addition to medication plans or findings, a full-text search is planned by the end of 2026. The ePA is intended to become a “real everyday app.” “To this end, health insurers will also be able to use ePA data, with the consent of the insured, who can then also benefit from tailor-made prevention recommendations. For example, overviews and reminders for preventive check-ups and vaccination recommendations are conceivable.” Warken described this as “really tangible benefits for care, and with this, we also want to convince the insured.” Furthermore, with digital initial assessment, e-referrals, and appointment scheduling, a connection to healthcare is to be added, which is why the minister is planning a primary care system. However, analog access routes, such as by phone, are to remain.

“In addition, we want to make digital communication channels in healthcare more user-friendly and seamless, to optimally utilize the added value of digitalization here as well,” Warken said. This cannot be done without interoperability. “This includes our desire to promote the functionality, stability, and user-friendliness of the information technology systems of service providers.”

Conformity assessment procedure for data protection and interoperability

Since the launch of the ePA, there has also been a conformity assessment procedure for it, to demonstrate basic requirements. “In the future, this procedure is to be extended to other requirements, for example, to functions for protecting patient data. And we also want to further strengthen patients' right to interoperability by obliging manufacturers of information technology systems to ensure greater interoperability. For the insured, this would mean more sovereignty over their own health data and also less bureaucracy.”

In addition, the ministry wants to expand the use of health data for research and care and adapt the ePA to the requirements of the European Health Data Space (EHDS). This is so that insured persons can access their data even when abroad in the EU. The telematics infrastructure is to become more stable; the government intends to make interoperability and standards more binding.

Health insurance contributions should not increase further

Regarding the financial situation of statutory health insurance, Warken emphasized that the increases in contribution rates at the turn of the year should not become a “routine.” “We want to end the increases in contribution rates that have almost become routine, because they are a growing burden for the insured, companies, and the entire country,” she said. Digitalization should also contribute to relief. “We don't want to save on digitalization, but through digitalization.”

(mack)