Health Minister Criticized for Unilateral Decision on Electronic Patient Files

The German Medical Association (DAV) has expressed strong criticism towards Health Minister Karl Lauterbach regarding his recent announcement concerning the rollout of electronic patient files (EPA). The decision, which Lauterbach communicated to the stakeholders of Gematik through a letter, was made public almost simultaneously, raising concerns about the lack of consultation with key players in the healthcare sector.

According to the new guidelines, the use of electronic patient files will become mandatory for both physicians and pharmacists starting in October. Jan-Niklas Francke, a board member of the DAV, emphasized the importance of ensuring that the necessary software systems are installed and operational in pharmacies by that time. He noted that software providers are currently working diligently to meet this deadline.

While the extended testing phase leading up to the mandatory implementation is welcomed by service providers, the DAV remains critical of the way the decision was communicated. Francke highlighted that this unilateral action by the ministry underscores a significant lack of professional dialogue between the government and healthcare providers during the previous legislative period.

The DAV also acknowledged that the Federal Office for Information Security has reportedly addressed all security concerns that could have delayed the rollout. However, the Chaos Computer Club (CCC) continues to highlight potential vulnerabilities in the security architecture of the system.

Francke regards the voluntary rollout phase, which will last until autumn, as an opportunity to enhance acceptance among users of the electronic patient files. He stressed the necessity for increased interaction among practices, pharmacies, and hospitals during this initial phase. Furthermore, he pointed out that the overall stability of the telematics infrastructure must be maintained as the number of users increases.

One of the significant limitations highlighted by Francke involves the restricted access for pharmacy teams. Initially, pharmacies will only be able to view medications prescribed via electronic prescriptions and will not have access to self-medication data. Full access to the electronic medication plan (EMP) is expected to be available in later stages of the EPA system's rollout next year. Francke remarked that the EMP could significantly transform pharmacy operations and enhance patient care.

On the other hand, criticism has emerged from the health insurance sector regarding the voluntary nature of the initial phase for practices. Daniela Teichert, chairwoman of the AOK Nordost, expressed disappointment that some practice management system providers have not yet implemented the necessary connections to the EPA. She stressed the urgent need for improvements in this area.

Despite these challenges, Teichert expressed optimism about the potential benefits of the EPA. She noted that even though it may take time for the new processes to be established in practices and hospitals, the prospects for widespread implementation of the EPA are significant. Users of electronic patient files could ultimately benefit from reduced duplication of examinations and fewer dangerous drug interactions. The implementation of the EPA is seen as a step towards making digital advancements more accessible, as patients will only need to insert their health card into the practice's system to grant access to their electronic patient file for 90 days.