Digital patient files in danger: Security risks and chaos planned!

Digital patient files in danger: Security risks and chaos planned!

The introduction of the electronic patient file (EPA) in Schleswig-Holstein is just around the corner, but various actors express concerns about security and software problems that have already occurred in the e-recipe. From mid -January 2025, the EPA will be available for all persons insured. The general practitioner association Schleswig-Holstein has warned of possible difficulties that could arise from IT support maintenance times, which could lead to less time for patient treatment. These challenges illustrate the need for a smooth start of the digital health infrastructure.

The security concerns, which from and the chaos computer club (CCC). The CCC criticizes the fact that criminals are relatively easy to get access to the digital files and calls for drastic reforms in the development process of the EPA. While the Federal Ministry of Health assures that all security gaps are closed before the introduction, IT security researchers emphasize that many problems have been known for years, but have been insufficiently addressed.

security risks and demands for reforms

The security risks extend not only to the digital acts themselves, but also to the IT systems in practices and hospitals, which are often poorly configured and are therefore susceptible to attacks. In addition, card readers from a second hand can be easily manipulated. The CCC calls for more transparency, independent exams and honest communication of the risks towards the insured in order to create trust in the digital health infrastructure.

by the end of 2024, the use of the EPA should be mandatory for each insured person, accompanied by an intended solution to opposition. The Gematik, the organization behind the EPA, refers to technical solutions that are currently in progress and considers the likelihood of successful attacks to be low. However, IT security researchers contradict and emphasize that the scenarios shown in the media can easily be implemented in practice. The discussion about the safety of the electronic patient file throws a shadow on the planned digital health system in Germany.

-transmitted by West-Ost-Medien