eHealth Strategy for digitization in healthcare presented in Austria

On July 10, 2024, the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMSGPK) informed that the federal government, states, and sickness funds had defined their priorities for digitizing the healthcare system within the healthcare reform. The corresponding document, “eHealth Strategy Austria”, was presented on July 10, 2024, outlining the priorities up to 2030.

As previously announced, additional funds of 51 million euros per year from the healthcare reform will be allocated to digitalization.

The following strategic objectives were outlined:

• Enabling digital access to the healthcare system, including the measures on the creation of a uniform process for the evaluation of digital health applications (DiGAs) and digital nursing applications (DiPAs) and, if the benefits are demonstrable, their introduction into healthcare (2024-2026);
• Create telehealth prevention and care solutions;
• Further develop the public health telematics infrastructure (GTI);
• Provide central eHealth services/components;
• Establish registers relevant to health care and governance;
• Strengthen secondary use of health data;
• Make innovation accessible;
• Strengthen digital skills.

Further details on the planned changes to be introduced are provided below:

• Electronic health record (ELGA)
  • ELGA is planned to be massively expanded by the introduction of data on medications that have been recently taken, previous diseases, laboratory and imaging results. Access to the data will be available for the patients, the healthcare professionals, the providers of emergency services, as well as the employees of the 1450 health consultation service;
• 1450 health consultation service
  • The 1450 health consultation service will be significantly expanded to become the first point of contact for people with health problems, referring the patients to the relevant healthcare providers;
  • From 2026, the possibility of doctor's appointments via the 1450 health consultation service is expected to be introduced. Video consultations are expected to become available nationwide in two years;
• Health applications for patients with chronic diseases
  • From the end of July 2024, the conditions for the widespread use of health applications will be developed. Patients will then be able to use the first apps as part of a pilot project starting in 2025. It is planned for sickness funds to check existing apps for medical quality standards and compliance with data protection requirements. After that, certified apps can be "prescribed" by doctors as part of the pilot program.

The presented eHealth strategy is a living document. As the next steps, an implementation plan and a monitoring framework are expected to be elaborated. The strategy itself is expected to be revised in 2028.

The full details in German can be found here and here (eHealth Strategy Austria document).

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