Digitalization in the healthcare sector: The master plan is missing

The participants expressed appreciation for the digitization projects that have already been implemented. They said that the path on which they had embarked must now be continued so that projects such as the electronic patient record could have the desired effect.

While the leaders of the CDU and SPD presented their coalition agreement, representatives of the healthcare sector met at DMEA to express their political demands. But first they looked back on the last legislature. Dr. Susanne Johna, first chairwoman and vice president of the Marburger Bund, observed a change in the healthcare sector. Under the coalition agreement, much has changed for the better in terms of digitalization. The opt-out regulation for electronic patient files has given the project momentum and will be rolled out. In her view, functions such as the medication plan have great potential. The e-prescription has already been successfully implemented. However, she criticized the numerous isolated solutions in the healthcare system. “We lack a master plan,” Susanne Johna stated.

It remains to be seen whether other major health policy projects of the coalition, such as the hospital reform, will achieve the desired effects. Among other things, Susanne Johna fears negative effects for the further training of doctors. There is still plenty for the new government to do: a reform of emergency care should be the top priority.

Efficiency thanks to digitization

Dr. Martin Krasney, member of the board of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds, emphasized that the traffic light had achieved a great deal. He sees digitization as a driver for using existing resources more efficiently. He spoke out in favor of a mandatory connection to the electronic patient record. With regard to the European health data space, a lot still needs to be done in Germany. Overall, he believes that a meaningful standardization, as already practiced at the EU level in the benefit assessment of pharmaceuticals, makes sense. However, national peculiarities would have to be taken into account.

According to Matthias Meierhofer, IT entrepreneur and CEO of the bvitg, the Healthcare Digital Agency Act would have led to a necessary strengthening of gematik. This would be important for implementing digital processes across sectors. Another issue that the new federal government would have to address is IT financing. For example, hospitals pay for their digital infrastructure out of their operating costs, which does not allow them to plan for the long term. Matthias Meierhofer hopes that the new health minister will provide continuity for the digitization projects that have been initiated.

Prof. Dr. Lutz Hager, Chairman of the Board of the German Managed Care Association, would have liked to have seen real structural reform from the outgoing government. In this regard, he sees few new projects in the coalition agreement. There is still a “glass ceiling” for DIGAs. Networking across sectoral boundaries in an overburdened and underfunded system is essential to relieve the burden on patients. Digitization enables both faster initial access and better control of further treatment. Therefore, gematik should become part of the public service.