Partial Outage of Telematics Infrastructure Reported by Gematik

The National Agency for Digital Medicine, Gematik, has announced a partial outage affecting the Telematics Infrastructure (TI) in Germany. Specifically impacted are the electronic patient record (ePA) and the electronic prescription (E-Rezept), along with the management of insured persons' data (VSDM) and communication in the medical field (KIM).

According to Gematik, the issues are indicative not only of functional disruptions but also of a significant partial failure. They have reported complications associated with the TI gateway managed by RISE, although these issues have since been resolved.

In recent days, there have been recurring incidents of both minor and major outages, with the most recent disruption of the electronic patient record occurring last Friday. The continued instability raises concerns about the reliability of digital medical services in Germany, prompting discussions among healthcare providers about the implications for patient care and operational efficiency.

Healthcare providers connected to the TI via the Arvato gateway have been unable to access the system, creating challenges in managing patient information and prescriptions. The ongoing technical difficulties underline the necessity for robust infrastructure to support digital health initiatives in the country.

In response to these challenges, various stakeholders, including pharmacies, are assessing the impact of these outages on their operations. The Free Pharmacists' Association (FA) is exploring legal measures to address potential losses incurred due to the disruptions associated with the electronic prescription system. They are evaluating whether Gematik could be held liable for compensation related to these operational challenges.

As the digital transformation in healthcare continues, ensuring the stability and reliability of the Telematics Infrastructure remains a priority for all involved parties. Stakeholders are calling for improved measures to enhance the resilience of the system to prevent such incidents in the future.