Two years after the eHealth Act, this year’s symposium dealt with the status of eHealth in Germany. Day one focused on various presentations and panel discussions, whereas Day 2 on the presentation of projects. Professor Dr. Guido Noelle, Managing Director of gevko GmbH, highlighted in his welcome address the written greeting of Jens Spahn. The Federal Minister of Health expressed the urge for more speed in the electronic patient plan. Moreover, he wished that the symposium will contribute to increase opportunities for digitalisation in health care.
Martin Litsch (right) with moderator Hans-Bernhard Henkel-Hoving
The keynote speaker, Martin Litsch, Chairman of the Management Board at the AOK Federal Association, emphasized collaboration between health insurances to achieve an electronic patient plan. Competition between health insurances should not be at the technology level, but rather at application level. Furthermore, health insurances should involve patients in the electronic communication process. This would empower patients to donate their data for research purposes. These goals must be achieved by the deadline set in 2021.
The Appointment Service and Care Act (TSVG) in 2019 is expected to be the basis of further developments by 2021. Dr Stefan Bales, Ministerialrat at the Federal Ministry of Health, stressed the importance of TSVG as the next legal step. The other option would be to wait for the second eHealth Act.
Finally, two members of the Federal Parliament Health Committee participated in a session with the title ‘How much eHealth Act 2.0 does the country need?’. This panel discussion dealt with issues including artificial intelligence, precision medicine and medication plan.
Last but not least, as Professor Noelle appropriately stated: ‘We need a Google Maps for patients’.
Glossary: vesta was the name of the interoperability registry for the German health care system.