The medical knowledge infrastructure in Germany is subject to creeping erosion. This critical finding is the subject of a recent article in the Journal of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Hamburg. The article describes how fragmented data structures, lack of interoperability and increasing dependence on external platforms endanger the basis of medical action.

Despite advancing digitalization, there is a lack of a uniform, high-quality and accessible knowledge base for care. Much relevant data remains trapped in silos, is incomplete or can only be used to a limited extent. At the same time, dependence on commercial providers and international platforms is growing, whose algorithms and data models are not always transparent or tailored to the specific requirements of the German healthcare system.

The article warns that this “silent infarction” could lead to wrong decisions, gaps in care and a loss of medical sovereignty in the long term. Outpatient care and general practitioners’ practices are particularly affected, where fast and reliable access to patient-related and evidence-based information is crucial.

The authors plead for the consistent further development of a sovereign, interoperable and qualitatively assured medical knowledge infrastructure. These include uniform standards, better networking of existing systems and greater involvement of medical self-administration in the design of digital solutions.

The article underlines that an intact knowledge infrastructure is a central prerequisite for good patient care, the implementation of prevention and the successful integration of new technologies such as artificial intelligence. Without targeted countermeasures, there is a risk of a creeping loss of quality in medical care.

Original Paper:

The silent infarction of the medical knowledge infrastructure

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Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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