Integration into statutory health insurance apps
Overview
The insured persons’apps offered by statutory health insurance companies are already now the first point of contact for many people when it comes to digital healthcare. These apps provide an overview of the medication received and lots of other information. With the introduction of electronic prescriptions and electronic patient records, more and more information for patients will be available in these apps.
Our Solution
By providing electronic product information leaflets (EPILs) in insured persons’apps of statutory health insurances, we want to provide an easy and broad access to EPILs for as many patients as possible. These information are stored in the medication overviews of the redeemed e-prescriptions.
Added Value
Integration into insured persons’apps offers the following advantages, among others:
- Increased accessibility: No additional app is required; electronic product information leaflets are automatically linked to prescripted medicines.
- Smooth introduction for patients: Easy access is intended to familiarise patients with the topic and explain the added value.
- Increased use, deeper insights: The more patients use electronic product information leaftlets, the more detailed findings can be obtained.
Current Status
Three statutory health insurance companies have already signed up for the project, representing a total of over 11 million insured people in Germany. Further discussions with other health insurance companies are ongoing in order to reach as many patients as possible. The technical interfaces for provision to the health insurance companies’ systems are currently being developed as part of the pilot project. At the same time, the health insurance companies are designing and developing the implementation in the corresponding apps. A go-live is expected in the second half of 2025.
Mitigation of Supply Chain Shortages
Overview
With the German Act on Combating Shortages and Improving the Supply of Medicines (ALBVVG), the legislator allows packaging in languages other than German to be placed on the market in exceptional cases. However, this is only permitted if it is ensured that patients have access to product information in an adequate manner.
Our Solution
EPILs are a quick, easy and reliable way to provide patients with access to the electronic version of the product information leaflet in German. For this purpose, the German version of the product information leaflet only needs to be assigned to the foreign packaging via GTIN/NTIN in the pilot system.
Added Value
This use case offers the following advantages, among others:
- Easy provision of information: Accessing electronic product information of foreign packaging is often complicated and usually only available in PDF format. With this approach, information can be easily provided in a structured format.
- More efficient processes: By providing electronic product information via a trusted source, the process can be standardised and made more efficient.
- Utilisation of existing infrastructure: Existing data matrix codes can be used to display electronic product information leaflets. Repackaging or additional codes are therefore not required.
Paperless Hospital Packaging
Overview
Pilot projects in other countries show that in hospitals it is possible to replace product information leaflets on paper with electronic alternatives. The project aims to demonstrate that this can also be achieved in Germany and actually adds value, provided that the necessary regulatory approvals for the pilot products are obtained.
Our Solution
In consultation with the authorities and subject to an exceptional authorisation, it is planned that selected products may be used in hospitals without products informations on paper. The paper version will be replaced by a electronic version that can be accessed via a website and/or apps. The products are selected basing on various criteria and must be approved by the authorities.
Added Value
This pilot use case will enable to gain initial experience and find out what a paperless future might look like. Further advantages will follow.