Healthcare lags behind
Lauterbach calls for “catching up” in digitization
08/09/2023 3:03 p.m
In medicine, Germany is actually a pioneer. However, this does not apply to digitization, even after the start of electronic prescriptions, the Federal Republic is still lagging behind. Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach puts pressure on.
Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach from the SPD has confirmed the need to “catch up” in the digitization of the healthcare system. After the start of the electronic prescription a good month ago, the electronic patient file and the research data law would also be launched this summer, said Lauterbach after visiting a cardiological group practice in Berlin-Charlottenburg. The e-prescription works well in the practice visited, said the minister.
The work processes would be significantly simplified and improved, and time would also be saved. However, the e-prescription also brings more security for the patients, emphasized Lauterbach. Medication errors are “much less likely”.
The e-prescription was launched on July 1st. According to Lauterbach, 2.4 million of these prescriptions were redeemed by Wednesday. This is possible with the electronic health card, among other things. “Experience so far has been very positive,” said the minister. “We’ll get better care and less bureaucracy at the same time.”
“Can’t go on like this”
According to the minister, the electronic file could be approved by the Federal Cabinet on August 30th. It is necessary so that all doctors everywhere can see “which examinations have been carried out on a patient in the past, how have the laboratory values developed, to which medications has he responded well or not”. The Research Data Act, which is also planned in the near future, is necessary because many pharmaceutical companies are now avoiding Germany as a research location because there is a lack of research data.
With a view to criticism from the medical profession about the digitization projects, Lauterbach said: “We cannot continue as before, the doubters must end.” Of course, there is “always a bit of jerking” at the beginning, but the e-prescription works and the e-file will work as well.