Germany is the first state in the world to introduce health apps on prescription. The resolution is part of the digital supply law passed by the Bundestag with the votes of the grand coalition. "Digital solutions can improve the patient's daily life," said Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU). "That's why there will be healthy apps on prescription from 2020 onwards." He spoke of a world premiere.
The bill provides that the costs incurred will be reimbursed by the health insurance companies. In addition, the new regulation should make it easier for patients to find doctors who offer online consultations. Therefore, the doctors may inform in the future on their website about such offers. Anyone wishing to join a statutory health insurance company voluntarily can do so electronically in the future.
Law comes in January
The new regulation also promotes the electronic doctor's letter - and this is due to the fact that the alternatively frequently used fax is paid less than before. In addition, doctors will have more opportunities to interact electronically with colleagues.
The law is scheduled to enter into force in January 2020. "Healthcare of the future will be even more data-driven health care," says the bill, which Spahn launched in July. One of the aims of the law is to speed up the provision of digital health applications, to simplify administrative processes through digitization or to better use health data for research purposes.
Not all doctors are enthusiastic about Spahn's digitization plans. In May, physicians warned in an open letter to Spahn that patient data was not sufficiently protected against hacker attacks.
Not all are familiar with new technologies
Also Doctors President Klaus Reinhardt called for a cautious approach to new digital offers for patients. "Not all people in this society have the same familiarity with new technologies, for example because of their age," said the head of the German Medical Association. "If we focus too much and too fast on digital support, one should not forget those people who may not be able to handle it." Otherwise it could come to "a kind of two-class supply".
Reinhardt said it would not be easy to tell which apps are really serving the given amount of offers. "There are digital health applications that are very useful and helpful, but there are also lots of bells and whistles that do not add value to patients and doctors." In order for physicians to prescribe digital applications, it should be ensured that they do no harm.
"Digitalization in medicine also means a question of trust Do I trust a technically-made solution to a problem?" There are other perceptive instruments between people, such as sympathy or empathy, which give rise to trust. "Data protection and secure data processing have to do with trust."
For these concerns, the Ministry of Health has a solution: According to Ministry of the Apps by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bfarm) must be checked for data security, data protection and functionality before patients get reimbursed. After this examination, the manufacturer has one year to prove to the Bfarm that the app improves patient care. How much money the manufacturer receives, he negotiates with the top association of statutory health insurance.
