Breakout group on data usage – discussion paper on digital healthcare services released

Last year, BIO Deutschland and seven other trade associations promoted a national e-health vision through a discussion paper, talks with several specialist policymakers and a parliamentary evening with German Health Minister Jens Spahn.

The participating associations decided at the start of the year to continue their efforts by pursuing specific elements of the joint e-health vision in breakout groups. Two breakout groups have already prepared discussion papers on the topics of quicker access to digital healthcare services and the establishment of an e-health coordination office in Germany.

Another breakout group convened on 18 February to discuss how the availability of data for research purposes could be improved. Matthieu-P. Schapranow, Scientific Manager of Digital Health Innovations at the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI), presented his idea for creating a “data donor card” scheme. Philipp Kircher, a lawyer at the innovation consultancy firm Dierks+Company , then led a discussion with participants about how the law can be changed to improve data usage.