Family doctors in Germany have expressed significant concerns regarding the electronic patient records (ePA) that were introduced at the beginning of last year. According to Markus Beier, the head of the German Association of Family Doctors, most patients have not even looked at their ePA due to an overly complicated registration process that frustrates users, even those who are tech-savvy. This points to a broader issue of awareness, as many people are unaware that they have an electronic patient record assigned by their health insurance provider.

Currently, around 70 million of the 74 million legally insured individuals in Germany have an ePA set up by their health insurers, yet only about four million are actively using it. This disparity indicates a significant gap between the potential and actual use of the system. The federal health ministry has mandated that from October 2025, practices and clinics must upload important data such as findings and laboratory results to the ePA, with the goal of providing patients with access to their medical history throughout their lives. However, the current low engagement raises questions about the viability of this initiative.

The introduction of the ePA is meant to enhance healthcare by improving treatment processes and patient management. However, the feedback from family doctors suggests that there needs to be a more user-friendly approach to encourage patients to actively participate in this digital healthcare system. The ongoing challenges highlight the need for better education, streamlined processes, and possibly reforms in how electronic health information is integrated into patient care, to ensure the intended benefits can be fully realized.