The Federal Cabinet passed a new health law on July 15, 2026. It is intended to massively upgrade the electronic patient file, initiate e-transfers and save around 445 million euros every year. For patients, this specifically means: less paperwork, faster specialist appointments and an ePA that has earned the name Health Hub for the first time. A commentary analysis.
New health law: What is the GeDIG)
- The new law for data and digital innovation in healthcare (GeDIG) has a typically complicated name for Germany. However, the measures actually planned are surprisingly concrete and sensible. The basis is one Expansion of the electronic patient record (ePA). It was introduced on January 15, 2025 and is now being upgraded. There is a full-text search, a digital vaccination overview and individually tailored information on suitable clinical studies. The health insurance companies themselves can integrate preventive examinations and reminders for check-ups. This means that the ePA becomes the first real, digital health hub for patients.
- The second central point is this Introduction of e-transfer. It should be implemented nationwide by September 1, 2029. After the prescriptions have been digitized, referrals from the family doctor to specialists or to the hospital will also be processed completely digitally in the future. Scheduling an appointment, an initial digital medical assessment and receiving the e-transfer are handled entirely via the ePA app.
- Lastly, they should Health data in Germany is used more effectively become. Health insurance companies are allowed to process health data in so-called real-world laboratories in order to ensure better care and closer prevention of high-risk patients. In the future, research institutions should also have access, for example Improve cancer screening programs or to identify patients at risk more quickly.
Our classification
Although Health Minister Nina Warken’s name stands for the new project – and if necessary – another ministry plays at least as important a role: the Federal Ministry for Digital and State Modernization. This ministry was only launched on May 6, 2025 by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Federal Minister Karsten Wildberger’s goal is so simple and yet so complicated at the same time: his ministry should be ours Modernize, slim down and digitalize the state.
In Germany this is a mammoth task. In particular, authorities and authority-like structures such as the healthcare system in Germany, consisting of health insurance companies, insurance companies, hospitals and doctors’ practices, love ancient technology. The high fax penetration or the partial requirement to communicate in paper form will be a farce unparalleled in 2026.
With the relief package approved on July 15, 2026, Karsten Wildberger wants to slim down our country and reduce unnecessary expenses. Companies and citizens are to be relieved of more than ten billion euros per year. The planned digitalization in the healthcare system alone should 445 million euros can be saved per year.
We will see whether the savings potential is actually that high by 2030 at the latest, when all systems mesh together. However, the status quo in late summer 2026 is: money savings in the millions through reductions in bureaucracy and more digitalization – there are worse things.
Voices
- Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken is convinced of the work of her ministry. She says: “The future of our healthcare system is digital and networked. The use of digital applications should become a matter of course for both service providers and insured persons. The basic prerequisite for this are stable systems and an electronic patient file that is also attractive for people without a history of illness. With the law for data and digital innovation in healthcare, we are creating the necessary basis for this.”
- Bernhard Rohleder, general manager of the digital association Bitkomis impressed by the new draft law. In order for the plans to be a success, he warns in a statement: “In order to enable innovations and improve the use of data, the establishment of real-world laboratories is also planned. The aim here is to create experimental spaces for the expanded use of data, which are currently only intended for health insurance companies. Research institutions and companies are important drivers of technical development in the healthcare system. They should not be left out of measures that promote innovation. In order for the law to actually advance the healthcare system, it must be designed to be open to innovation and aligned with the practical requirements of care.”
- Ariel Dora Stern is Professor of Digital Health, Economics and Policy at the Hasso Plattner Institute. In the ARD morning magazine (from 1.15 min.) she speaks hopefully about the plans: “[…] That for the first time in the German healthcare system we can learn from our own data and build valuable and new products based on it. The goal is that we can offer much more personalized care for patients with chronic illnesses, for example.” She adds on LinkedIn: “Our ability to best serve patients and develop sophisticated, highly personalized products and services depends on our ability to use and learn from high-quality health data. Germany’s planned GeDIG law (Law for Data and Digital Innovations in Healthcare) is an important step towards modernizing the healthcare system and driving its digital transformation.”
outlook
The new health law is a an important cog in the process of restructuring the German healthcare system. So far, Germany has taken a special approach: In this country, patients can consult specialists directly with their concerns or go to emergency rooms – treatment is guaranteed, but so is the overload on nursing and medical staff.
Health Minister Nina Warken would like to end this special path and introduce a so-called primary care system. The idea behind it: Specialists, emergency rooms and hospitals are specifically relieved because Family doctors act as guideswhich patient visits which facility. There should be exceptions in gynecology and ophthalmology, for example.
To ensure that general practitioner practices do not collapse under the strain, there are digital, initial medical consultations – for example through the on-call medical service, telemedicine and trained nursing staff on site. These experts tell patients which is the right place to go.
The basis of this system change is one smoothly functioning digital infrastructurewhich – you guessed it – is based on the electronic patient record. This brings us full circle as to why the success of the law for data and digital innovations in healthcare is so important: it determines that the many “if-then” constructions actually become a targeted system.
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