Overview

• The electronic patient record (ePA) was officially launched nationwide in Germany on April 29, 2025, making it accessible to nearly 75 million insured citizens.
• Records have been automatically created for all statutory health-insured individuals since January 15, 2025, with an option to opt out if desired.
• Access requires an NFC-enabled smartphone, a compatible health card, and a PIN or health ID, with insurer-specific apps facilitating setup and management.
• The ePA consolidates medical data to provide doctors with complete patient histories, reduce redundant tests, and enable future AI-driven healthcare insights.
• A transition period extends until October 1, 2025, when usage of the system will become mandatory for all statutory health-insured Germans.