Digitalization strategy for health and nursing care: Digital together 2026 in Germany

On February 11, 2026, the Federal Ministry of Health (BGM) presented the further development of the Digitalization Strategy for Health and Nursing Care. The objectives are to integrate digital innovations more strongly into routine care, to systematically generate and use high-quality health data, and to enhance digital care coordination.

The strategy focuses on three key areas.

1. Person-centered, digitally supported care processes

The electronic patient record (ePA) will evolve from a digital data repository into a digital companion throughout the care pathway. Planned features include digital triage, appointment scheduling, and electronic referrals to improve patient experience.

The strategy also highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. AI is expected to support clinical decision-making, reduce documentation burden, improve communication, and facilitate access to reliable health information. By 2028, AI-supported documentation is expected to be used in more than 70% of healthcare and nursing care facilities.

2. Generating and using high-quality health data

The strategy emphasizes the need for structured, interoperable health data to improve care and research. The Health Research Data Centre (FDZ) will be connected to the European Health Data Space (EHDS), enabling cross-border use of health data and strengthening Germany as a hub for research and innovation.

The government aims to have at least 300 research projects using FDZ data initiated or completed by the end of 2026. The FDZ will also be further developed to support AI-based data analysis and validation.

3. Benefit-oriented digital technologies and infrastructure

A stable and modern telematics infrastructure (TI) remains the foundation for digital healthcare services. Planned improvements include simplifying system architecture, enabling mobile access for healthcare professionals, and introducing digital patient check-in options.

To support the strategy, the government plans to present a draft Digital Healthcare and Health Data Space Act in the first quarter of 2026, incorporating key elements of the updated digital health framework.

The full details in German can be found here.

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