[Political aspects and aims of telematics].
Germany has a health care system that uses sophisticated technologies. On the other hand, with respect to the most important human asset--good health--duplication of work, media discontinuity, and incompatible documentations persist. The sector-oriented service structures and pillars of our health-care system are also reflect ed in the area of informatics and communication technologies. In the German health care system every institution in itself is an isolated solution, partially in line with the latest scientific research, but singular. As a rule, the limits of information technology are reached where the economic and business capacities of one's own institution are exhausted. So the essential advantage of telematics, which is in particular the use of synergistic benefits, is given away. Therefore, both the infrastructural conditions for the use of telematics have to be improved and also important key applications such as the electronic prescription have to be encouraged. By introducing the new electronic health card, the nation wide use of health telematics in Germany can be promoted. The activities of the Federal Government and the legislation initiated within the scope of the Act on the Modernization of the Statutory Health Insurance serve to expedite these improvements. The extension of the current health insurance card to an electronic health card is the task of the central associations of self-administration. They are also obligated to fulfill the agreement on the infrastructure necessary for the electronic health card.
Bundesministerium für Gesundheit und Soziale Sicherung, 10117 Berlin/Bonn, Germany. norbert.paland@bmgs.bund.de
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D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D005858:Germany; D006078:Government Programs; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000379:methods*; D011057:Politics; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*