Overview

• Since January’s opt-out rollout, 70 million of Germany’s 74 million statutory insured have been assigned an electronic patient record but only about 1.2 million have activated their accounts for viewing or privacy controls.
• Healthcare providers open ePA files around 40 million times weekly across some 70,000 facilities, highlighting broad technical integration despite limited patient engagement.
• The German General Practitioners Association warns that a cumbersome registration process and unstable technology are undermining everyday use of the system.
• Consumer advocates and policymakers are urging the introduction of richer functions—such as lab results display, detailed medication plans and more granular data-sharing settings—to boost uptake.
• A legal mandate taking effect in October will require doctors to fill and use the ePA in routine care, a step expected to increase the record’s utility and patient involvement.