14.03.2024 – 16:05
ABDA Bundesvgg. German pharmacist associations
Berlin (ots)
With a view to current developments in e-prescriptions, the ABDA – Federal Association of German Pharmacists Associations warns of restrictions in patient safety. Specifically, it is about the so-called ‘CardLink process’, with which patients can forward their e-prescriptions to pharmacies by using third-party smartphone apps. Despite clear warnings from all other gematik shareholders and with the help of its 51 percent majority in the shareholders’ meeting, the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) enforced the specifications – i.e. the technical specifications – for this procedure this Thursday. All other shareholders, i.e. both the service providers and the payers, voted against it. This is a novelty.
The ABDA explicitly warns against making this technology available in drug supply. ABDA President Gabriele Regina Overwiening explains: “The ‘CardLink process’ poses significant safety risks for patients, will make the recently rolled out e-prescription system more vulnerable and does not improve the supply of medicines in any way! In Germany “The safe supply of medicines must not be jeopardized by unsafe smartphone apps. The fact that the BMG, in its self-imposed decision, is now shifting responsibility for the new e-prescription redemption method to pharmacies is absolutely unacceptable.”
Overwiening also reminds us that the pharmacists – as well as all other shareholders apart from the BMG – have repeatedly pointed out the uncertainties surrounding ‘CardLink’ in the gematik committees. “If it is the wish of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) to create a fourth redemption method for e-prescriptions, then this must be just as secure as redemption using eGK, printing out the e-prescription or the secure apps from gematik or the Health insurance companies. These applications are subject to the particularly strict requirements of gematik and are approved by them. It is impossible for patients to be able to evaluate which smartphone apps are safe and which are not. That the ministry has now held its 51st in a remarkable vote for the first time -percent majority is used to satisfy the special interests of individual large corporations shocks us.”
Press contact:
Benjamin Rohrer, Head of Communications, 030 40004-132, [email protected]
Dr. Ursula Sellerberg, Deputy Press Spokesperson, 030 40004-134, [email protected]
Original content from: ABDA Bundesvgg. German pharmacist associations, transmitted by news aktuell