SVR report “Resilience in the healthcare system” presented
19.01.2023 11:09
On January 19, 2023, the Expert Council for Health and Care* presented Federal Minister Prof. Lauterbach with the current report “Resilience in the healthcare system. Ways to deal with future crises” in the BMG.
Given current challenges and identified deficiencies, the report examines how the health system and the people who work in this system can be better prepared for future crises. To this end, the report analyzes individual areas of care and formulates recommendations - in particular on the public health service, acute care and long-term care. Options for action to strengthen supply chains, target group-oriented communication and scientific policy advice as well as to improve acute crisis management are also shown. As an example, concrete measures are recommended with regard to heat waves and future pandemics.
As in the previous report “Digitalization for Health”, the importance of health data and digitalization in the health care system for better coordination, research and care is also evident with regard to the desired crisis resilience. In the Council's opinion, an empty understanding of data protection, which does not make data more secure, but rather limits or even prevents its use for the benefit of each individual and all patients, must be overcome in favor of responsible, effectively secured data use for the resilient protection of life, health and self-determination become.
Federal Health Minister Prof. Karl Lauterbach explained: “The pandemic has shown that our healthcare system must become more resilient. That's why I'm grateful that the Council of Experts is making resilience an issue. This gives us tailwind for the planned difficult but urgently needed reforms: we are rearranging the hospital structure, making drug supply safer, and ensuring good medicine for everyone with low-threshold offers. And we are learning lessons from the pandemic. If the next virus becomes a threat, we will be better positioned internationally and nationally. I will remain in contact with the Advisory Council on these topics. The current report provides a good basis for this.”
Prof. Dr. med. Petra A. Thürmann, head of the Helios Center for Research and Innovation and member of the Advisory Council for the Assessment of Developments in the Healthcare System since 2011, pointed out the need for a health data usage law in her presentation at the press conference to present the current report. This is necessary to protect our citizens in these times. Addressing the meta-topic of climate and health, she explained that “the pandemic has shown us that we are not well positioned in terms of infectious diseases in Germany,” which is why “we need special, interdisciplinary research centers that are already doing research outside of a pandemic, for what tomorrow comes". Close integration from basic research to clinical research and health services research is also essential.