From April 29, 2025, a new Electronic Patient File (ePA) system will be rolled out across Germany. Anyone is entitled to opt out of the new system. If you would like to opt out, these are the steps you should take.
Starting April 29, doctors' offices and clinics in Germany will be able to use Electronic Patient Files (Elektronische Patientenakte or ePAs) to store and access their patients’ medical information.
Until now, medical professionals were reliant on new patients’ own accounts of their previous and existing health conditions and treatments, rather than an official record logged by other professionals.
Doctors will be able to view the ePA in an online database by inserting a patient's health insurance card into a reader during an appointment. Patients will also be able to access their own ePA via the app of their health insurance provider (Krankenkasse).
From October, it will be mandatory for all doctors’ offices and medical clinics to offer the ePA service. Even after October, at any time, patients are free to opt out of having their medical information saved in the database and can have the previously saved information wiped.
The German Health Ministry has said that the incoming online database is saved on secure services, encrypted and “extremely safe”. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has deemed the system, by international comparison, “one of the more secure, and maybe most secure, electronic patient file systems”.
Despite this, some patients may still prefer that their sensitive medical information remain completely offline, where it is entirely secure from any technological security breaches.
Others may have concerns that their sensitive medical information could be misused or exploited. This is a concern for many patient groups, but particularly queer people, and those with addictions or mental health problems.
Deutsche Aidshilfe, a German association representing people with HIV/AIDS, has cited concerns that the new ePA system puts patients at further risk of medical discrimination. This could include discrimination based on unconsensual access to medical records or discrimination by doctors and other medical professionals.
If you do decide you would like to remove your information from the online database, these are the steps you can take:
Most German health insurance providers will allow you to opt out of the ePA system via their website or app. It is also possible to opt out via the ePA app.
Alternatively, you can send a letter to your Krankenkasse. The letter should include:
Declare that you would like to opt out of the ePA using the following statement, “Hiermit widerspreche ich der Anlage einer elektronischen Patientenakte durch die [name of health insurance provider]”. Add your signature, the date and location at the bottom.
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