End of the Pandemic - Beginning of Digitalization in the Public Health Service? The German National Funding Program

Abstract

The data-related desolate state of the health authorities became evident at the latest with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The lack of interoperability and networking among health authorities quickly developed into blockages in contact tracing and pandemic control. As a basis for the study, key figures and funding volumes from the Pact-Public Health Service (Pakt-ÖGD) were evaluated and analyzed using descriptive parameters. In addition, a literature review on the Pakt-ÖGD and related terms was carried out. The Pakt-ÖGD represents the largest financing offensive for the Public Health Service to date. Despite the digitalization pact and the first distributions of funds, there is no consensus on the goals of digitalization such as the ISCODE, Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability und Reuse (FAIR concept). The RKI is currently presenting a new electronic reporting and information system for health authorities (EMIGA), which is to be introduced parallel to DEMIS as a nationwide core application for infection protection. In analogy to health literacy, the public health service needs increased digital literacy to strengthen competence in order to agree on common goals of ISCODE and the FAIR concept, i.e. what digitalization should create or not. A sustainable public health service requires an open and connectable network that goes beyond infection protection (pandemic prevention, preparedness and response - PPPR) to a global One-Health platform.