Overview
- The electronic patient record (ePA) will roll out nationwide in Germany on April 29, 2025, with mandatory adoption for healthcare providers starting October 1, 2025.
- Approximately 70 million statutory insured citizens have already been automatically enrolled, with only about 5% opting out so far.
- Critics, including patient advocates and doctors, highlight unresolved privacy concerns, particularly the inability to selectively share individual documents with specific providers.
- Many healthcare practices report delays in receiving critical software updates, raising concerns about readiness ahead of the October mandate.
- Health Minister Karl Lauterbach describes the ePA as a pivotal step in digitalizing healthcare, while opponents call for further safeguards to protect patient data.