The political representatives of German doctors are under extreme pressure when it comes to the smartcard project. The next national plenum of doctors in May 2008 will almost certainly single out the scheme for criticism.
In a draft of a position paper that was made public last week, the doctor’s political representatives try to find a wording capable of gaining a majority in the May plenum, without bluntly saying ‘no’ to smartcards altogether. The paper suggests that doctors accept the rollout of the smartcards, but demand that electronic prescriptions and shared electronic patient records should only be introduced on a voluntary basis.
A reserved wording may indeed yield a majority among doctors. However, when it comes to electronic prescriptions, this position is not compatible with law. The paragraph that rules the introduction of smartcards in the German healthcare system explicitly says that electronic prescriptions are ‘mandatory’. Therefore, there is room for confrontation between doctors and the ministry of health.
Regardless, the news that insurance companies will pay for the initial hardware may calm some doctors, but whether it will be enough to win the plenum and secure a smooth rollout later in the year remains debatable.
