Continuous malfunction of digital prescription system
### E-Prescription System Struggles in Germany: AVWL Calls for Infrastructure Improvements
Germany's e-prescription system is grappling with recurring technical issues, primarily due to disruptions in the Telematics Infrastructure (TI), which serves as the backbone for electronic prescriptions. These outages have caused operational disruptions for pharmacies, leading to concerns about patient care.
The root causes of these issues are not the e-prescription service itself but related infrastructure components such as identity providers and VPN services. The TI has shown a decline in stability compared to previous years, with a 56% application performance stability rate, leading to frequent disruptions.
Pharmacies across Germany, including those in Münster and the surrounding area, have been affected by these outages. The disruptions have resulted in operational disruptions, causing loss of earnings as prescriptions could not be delivered. Moreover, the inability to redeem prescriptions promptly can lead to delays in treatment, posing risks to patient care, particularly for those who are acutely ill.
The Westphalia-Lippe Pharmacists' Association (AVWL) has criticized these ongoing outages and appealed to the federal government to address the issues with the Telematics Infrastructure to prevent chronic problems. The AVWL has proposed solutions such as enhancing infrastructure reliability, implementing technical and organizational measures, and preparing pharmacies and healthcare professionals for potential disruptions by providing training on backup systems.
As the e-prescription system continues to evolve, future developments include the integration of certified modules for prescribing digital health applications (DiGA), which will further integrate into the e-prescription system. However, these developments increase demands on IT systems, potentially exacerbating the existing technical issues.
Thomas Rochell, chairman of the AVWL, emphasized that the e-prescription is a good thing in principle but the current outages represent additional burdens. The AVWL believes compensation is necessary for the economic burdens caused by the outages, as disruptions can cause logistical problems and pose a risk to patients.
Juliane Hermes, chairwoman of the AVWL district group in Münster, echoed these concerns, stating that these outages pose a risk to patients. The AVWL sees economic consequences for pharmacies due to the e-prescription outages, as pharmacies cannot process electronic prescriptions during outages, preventing them from dispensing medication.
The system disruptions are attributed to the Telematics Infrastructure (TI), the digital network processing e-prescriptions and electronic patient records. With numerous technical components, including software modules and hardware solutions, needing to work smoothly together in the TI, ensuring its reliability is crucial for the smooth functioning of the e-prescription system.
- The ongoing issues within Germany's e-prescription system, primarily due to disruptions in the Telematics Infrastructure (TI), have also impacted the realms of science and medical-conditions, as delays in treatment can pose risks to patient care, particularly for those who are acutely ill.
- To mitigate these risks and improve health-and-wellness outcomes, the Westphalia-Lippe Pharmacists' Association (AVWL) has proposed enhancing infrastructure reliability and preparing healthcare professionals for potential disruptions, such as providing training on backup systems, which could reduce the impact of technology-related obstacles.
