Digital revolution in healthcare: ELGA will be more effective from July 2025!

Digital revolution in healthcare: ELGA will be more effective from July 2025!

From July 2025, there will be significant changes in the healthcare system for patients in Austria. From this point on, laboratories and radiologists are obliged to upload all findings and image data digitally into the electronic health record (ELGA). This measure is part of a comprehensive plan to digitize the health system that the federal government initiated under the leadership of Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens). As early as 2026 to 2030, further health data will be integrated into ELGA to ensure a comprehensive overview of citizens' health, as 5min.at reports.

A central aspect of the planned innovations is the introduction of a practical short file for patients, the associated “Patient Summary”, and a digital medication plan called DigiMed. These are intended to offer patients a clear overview of their medical data, including information on medications, dosages and times of intake. In addition, the existing ELGA portal is undergoing a comprehensive renovation, and an associated ELGA app is also being planned. These developments represent significant progress in digital healthcare, as nachrichten.at emphasizes.

Integration and interoperability

In order to avoid gaps in care, the project also focuses on “integrated care” for people with chronic illnesses, initially in cases of diabetes and heart failure. This should be made possible through access to ELGA and the electronic vaccination certificate, which will also be made available in an app. From autumn 2025, citizens will also have the opportunity to directly access and download their X-ray images and other imaging procedures. This measure aims to increase transparency and patient self-determination and is seen by experts as a crucial step towards a modern healthcare system.

One of the fundamental innovations from 2026 concerns the mandatory electronic diagnostic documentation for practicing doctors. This is complemented by a secure communication platform based on the open source “Matrix” protocol, created to optimize communication and exchange between healthcare services. Mobile care services are also to be connected to ELGA, which includes documentation and access to specific care apps in order to optimally support those affected.

Investments in digitalization

The comprehensive measures to digitize the healthcare system are part of a strategic initiative that was presented on July 10, 2024. This “eHealth Strategy Austria” aims to give all citizens digital access to their health system and their health data by 2030. For this purpose, 51 million euros are provided annually by the federal government, states and social security to create the appropriate technical requirements.

Digital health applications (DiGa) are also planned from 2025, which are intended to particularly support people with chronic illnesses. Patients are supposed to use these apps to document their values ​​such as blood sugar and thus inform doctors about their health conditions. All of these initiatives contribute to a comprehensive restructuring of the Austrian healthcare landscape in order to ensure better and more efficient care for the population, as gesundheit.gv.at notes.