DGAUM demands equal treatment for company doctors when it comes to access to the electronic patient file

01.08.2023 14:31

The Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) has presented a draft of a “law to accelerate the digitalization of the healthcare system” (Digital Law – DigiG). This stipulates that company doctors will be reimbursed for both the costs of the equipment and the costs of ongoing operations when they are connected to the telematics infrastructure. Accordingly, the same expenses should be reimbursed as for so-called contract doctors. The German Society for Occupational Medicine and Environmental Medicine (DGAUM) expressly welcomes this in its statement dated July 24, 2023.

However, the DGAUM criticizes the fact that company doctors who are not contracted doctors should remain with the previous “opt-in” solution when accessing the electronic patient file (ePA). What is important in the current draft of a digital law is that an “opt-out” solution is to be introduced for other doctors with the DigiG-E in such a way that basic access to all data in the electronic patient file (ePa) is to be introduced possible if the patients do not expressly object. However, for company doctors who are not contracted doctors, the current “opt-in” solution should remain the same. This would mean they would only have access to patient data with the patient’s consent. Given that the world of work, with over 45 million employees, represents the largest prevention setting in our society, the DGAUM considers such a regulation to be counterproductive, especially in the interests of patients. In the spirit of holistic health care, the DGAUM is committed to a continuous exchange of information across healthcare sectors.