Move forward faster with clear responsibilities
14.03.2023 14:07
Dr. Christian Ullrich is convinced: If the Federal Ministry of Health's digitalization strategy is implemented as presented, then we will be a big step further in terms of digitalization.
“On March 9th, the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) presented its digitalization strategy. And you have to give one thing to Minister Lauterbach and his staff: it turned out well. She sets the right priorities. It gives hope that we will make faster progress with the digitalization of the healthcare system in the future. And what is particularly important to me: move faster TOGETHER. In my opinion, one of the most important projects that is addressed as part of the strategy is the clarification of responsibilities and tasks.
New structures for collaboration
So far it has been the case that other institutions work together on every project. For the ePrescription there is an app from gematik, for the electronic patient file (ePA) gematik has set the framework and the health insurance companies are the providers, gematik was not involved at all in the electronic dental application process (EBZ). The result: a jumble of solutions, not interoperable, with different support channels for the insured. Now things should be different: In the future, politics will specify the desired functionalities and the direction. gematik carries out the requirements management and creates the specifications. It takes on a coordinating role in the implementation – similar to what is now happening with TI Messenger. The digital services themselves are developed by those who use them in everyday care. We health insurance companies and service providers can then work together to provide sensible offers for our insured persons and patients. I am convinced that the digitalization of the healthcare system is progressing much faster in this organization.
The opt-out ePA as the heart of the digital healthcare system
The heart of the digital healthcare system will be the ePA in its opt-out version. Here too I say: The idea is good in order to fundamentally contribute to the dissemination of digital files. However, it will not be enough to really help the ePA achieve a breakthrough. Setting up access to the ePA app is currently too complicated for the insured person and it offers too little added value. This will not change just because we create an ePA for every person in Germany. In my opinion, it is not enough to just tinker with the ePA specifications. We must face the overall societal discussion regarding our handling of data and commit ourselves to secure and at the same time low-threshold access to digital offerings.
Data use: The European health data space shows the way
We are currently struggling again and again with data protection regulations that make the use of digital offerings or the opportunities for data analysis significantly more difficult. Nobody can deny that German regulations regarding data protection are restrictive. There are people who think that's good. And there are people who don't think that's so good. Instead of further cementing the hardened fronts, I would like us to enter into a social discussion about how we want to use the opportunities that data use in healthcare offers. I hope that the European initiatives on the health data space and the BMG's digitalization strategy with the subsequent legislative procedures will create user- and opportunity-oriented regulations."