Digital transformation is not reaching the patients yet this is the key result of an international comparative study published by German foundation Bertelsmann Stiftung towards the end of November.In the study, Germany scores low and ranks 16th out of 17 countries surveyed worldwide regarding the digitization of their healthcare systems.Estonia, Canada, Denmark, Israel and Spain are in the first ranks of the comparison.The study finds that one of the major barriers to digital health adoption in Germany is the lack of a national coordination agency.Politicians have in the past delegated the responsibility for digital transformation to self-government in health care,” says Thomas Kostera, study director and health expert of the foundation. “The protagonists have been blocking each other for a long time and it has not yet been possible to bring all those responsible behind a common goal.”Recently, health policy has strengthened its leadership role and some advancements, such as the introduction of telemedicine for remote treatment, have been made.The Bertelsmann Stiftung recommends politicians engage citizens, doctors and other health professionals to encourage digital health adoption. Users, such as patients and physicians, should be actively involved in developing sub-strategies and digital applications and processes, to ensure benefits become visible at an early stage.

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