Health,
care and
social affairs

A variety of factors, such as demographic change, increasing mobility and the depopulation of rural areas, are presenting the welfare system with new challenges. Individual requirements are changing and the traditional boundaries between health care facilities and the health and welfare system as well as other policy areas are becoming blurred. The use of new technologies supports the increased need for prevention, information and communication, particularly between medical staff. In the case of medical data in particular, it is especially important to ensure data security and protection. Individuals must also be provided with unrestricted access to their own data.

Digital technologies can be used to further improve the already high quality of health and care services provided to the population by personalizing these services to a greater extent. Innovative ambient assisted living and smart home technologies enable elderly and disabled people to lead a more independent life in familiar surroundings. This also applies to the design of working conditions for care activities in the home environment. In addition to providing state-of-the-art infrastructure, education and training programmes must be adjusted, job profiles created or further developed, and the legal framework adapted.

The creation and expansion of technology-based services enable a variety of skills to be combined. Assistive technologies, mobile applications (apps) and social media should be used alongside conventional specialist applications, taking open source solutions into consideration. Accessibility is a prerequisite here. Technological solutions should be used as a support and to improve quality and process optimization, but never as a substitute for personal communication and attention.

Measures

  • Implement and continue to develop the electronic health record scheme (ELGA) in the intramural and extramural sectors nationwide
  • Design an electronic vaccination record, electronic mother-and-child medical card and electronic prescription (ePrescription)
  • Set up contact and advice centres for the whole population, e.g. in the form of an electronically supported initial contact and advisory service (TEWEB)
  • Develop a patient summary that contains key medical data on the patient, such as blood group, allergies and drug intolerances, and can be viewed in other countries subject to the patient’s consent
  • Encourage the widespread use of assistance systems to help elderly people and people with special needs
  • Prepare a framework for electronic health services in areas such as telemedicine