Germany Confirms April 29 Rollout for Nationwide Electronic Patient Record System
The long-awaited ePA system aims to streamline healthcare data access, with mandatory usage for doctors starting in October and patient opt-out options available.
- Germany's electronic patient record (ePA) system will launch nationwide on April 29, 2025, following successful pilot tests in Franken, Hamburg, and parts of North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Approximately 70 million ePAs have been provisioned since January, laying the groundwork for the system’s full implementation.
- Doctors will be required to use the ePA system starting in October 2025, with penalties for non-compliance beginning January 2026.
- Patients retain the right to opt out of the system, with advanced security measures in place to protect sensitive health data, including personal security keys and controlled access settings.
- The ePA is expected to enhance healthcare efficiency by reducing duplicate tests and treatments, giving doctors access to consolidated diagnostic and treatment histories.