Germany is moving forward with plans to strengthen the role of digital technologies in healthcare and nursing. In February, Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken presented an updated digitalisation strategy aimed at integrating digital tools more deeply into everyday care, improving the use of health data, and strengthening digital coordination across the health system.
A central element of the strategy is the expansion of the electronic patient record (ePA), which is intended to become a key entry point to the healthcare system for insured patients.
“Digital innovations must be integrated much more strongly into everyday healthcare delivery. They reduce the burden on staff, improve the quality of treatment, and help patients navigate and manage their way through the healthcare system.
The electronic patient record will be further developed as a central instrument of modern healthcare so that it becomes the simplest entry point into the health system for all insured persons. So far, it has mainly brought added value for patients who already have a medical history.
Rapid developments, particularly in artificial intelligence, make it possible to achieve more precise diagnoses, speed up administrative processes, and process large amounts of data much faster. All these possibilities should be used much more extensively for the benefit of everyone—as support tools, because ultimately medical decisions will always be made by a human.”
Electronic patient record as a digital companion
Germany’s electronic patient record is expected to evolve beyond its role as a digital storage system and become a broader digital companion in healthcare. Planned features include digital initial assessments, appointment booking and electronic referrals.
Currently, about 4 million insured individuals actively use the ePA, but the government aims to increase this number to around 20 million by 2030. To support wider use, authentication barriers are expected to be reduced while maintaining secure data protection.
Additional functions planned for this year include a digitally supported medication management process, reminder functions for patients, and the transfer of research data to the Health Research Data Centre (FDZ).
Artificial intelligence in everyday healthcare
Artificial intelligence is another major focus of the updated strategy. Authorities plan to use AI where it can improve treatment quality, ease the burden of documentation for medical and nursing staff, support communication and improve access to reliable health information.
AI applications may be tested in secure environments before broader use, with strict attention to data protection. At the same time, the government plans to provide legal clarity for healthcare providers using these technologies.
AI-supported documentation is expected to play a major role in reducing administrative workload. The strategy aims for more than 70 percent of healthcare and nursing institutions to actively use AI-assisted documentation by 2028.
Expanding the use of health data
Another priority is improving how health data is collected and used. At present, health information is often not captured in a structured, standardised or interconnected way.
The updated strategy therefore promotes the systematic use of health data from multiple sources within systems that are compatible with European frameworks such as the European Health Data Space.
Plans include connecting Germany’s Health Research Data Centre (FDZ) to the European system and improving access to health and care data for cross-border research and healthcare. The government also aims for at least 300 research projects using FDZ data to be initiated or carried out by the end of 2026.
The FDZ itself will also be expanded to support AI, enabling data to be used more effectively and allowing AI systems to be tested, trained and validated.
Strengthening digital infrastructure
The strategy also highlights the need for a reliable digital infrastructure. Germany plans to simplify its telematics infrastructure (TI) to reduce system complexity and minimise disruptions.
Usability improvements are also planned, including mobile access for healthcare providers and digital check-in options for patients.
In addition, the role of gematik GmbH, which is responsible for central digital health applications, will be strengthened. The organisation will receive greater authority to ensure that agreed digital standards and regulations are implemented more consistently across the healthcare system.
