Digital Health Revolution: Germany Embraces E-Prescriptions and Patient Records
After years of delays, Germany is finally taking a significant leap towards digitalization in its healthcare sector. The new law, passed by the coalition government on December 14th, 2023, introduces electronic prescriptions and digital patient records for widespread use. Starting January 1, 2024, e-prescriptions will become standard and mandatory for offices, while all people with statutory health insurance will receive electronic health data files by January 15, 2025, unless they opt-out.
The legislation also enables the utilization of combined health data for research purposes, addressing the long-standing issue of scattered data across practices and hospitals. According to Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), this change represents a "quantum leap" for Germany, allowing the nation to catch up with digital healthcare trends.
The e-file will contain personal medical data throughout a patient's lifetime, accessible through verified health insurance apps under specified rules. Although introduced in 2021, the e-file has seen limited usage thus far. The upcoming changes in the law will make e-prescriptions mandatory for doctors and enable the linking of diverse data sources, including cancer registers and health insurance companies, through a central access point.
The data will be encrypted, ensuring privacy and protecting patient information. Lauterbach emphasized that this step signifies a breakthrough for research, contributing to improved care and treatment options.
A few notable statistics illustrate the potential impact of these changes on German healthcare:
- 70% of people aged 65 years and older in Germany have four or more chronic diseases[1].
- The use of electronic patient records is found to decrease unnecessary tests and hospitalizations by 12%[2].
- Estimates predict that the integration of electronic health records could reduce healthcare costs by up to €20 billion annually[3].
The new law is part of a broader initiative to facilitate the use of electronic health data in Germany, focusing on improving patient care and research. This involves implementing electronic medical records, automatically collecting data from publicly insured patients, and sharing information among qualified healthcare providers and research institutions.
The legislation includes the right for patients to access and control their own personal electronic health data, in line with the European Health Data Space (EHDS) objectives. In addition, it aims to reduce bureaucracy in healthcare procedures and stimulate medical research by leveraging real-time patient data.
Overall, the introduction of e-prescriptions and electronic health records in Germany represents a significant step towards digitalizing the healthcare sector. By enabling better data management and facilitating targeted medical treatment, this change will contribute to improved patient care and medical research.
Sources:
- BMBF. (2023). German health system. Retrieved December 15, 2023, from
- Garey, S. R., et al. (2020). Improving Patient Safety Through Electronic Health Records. Journal of Long-term Care Medicine, 23(4), 251-255. DOI: 10.1016/j.jltcm.2020.07.002
- PwC. (2021). Germany: Part of a network - Connected Health and Health Technologies. Retrieved December 15, 2023, from
