Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2025

Drug Repurposing Hypothesis Generation Using the "RE:fine Drugs" System
Published on: December 11, 2016
The three-year evolution of Germany's Digital Therapeutics reimbursement program and its path forward
Linea Schmidt1,2,3, Marc Pawlitzki4, Bernhard Y Renard1,2,3
1Hasso Plattner Institute, Digital Engineering Faculty, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
Abstract:
The 2019 German Digital Healthcare Act introduced the Digital Health Application program, known in German as 'Digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen' (DiGA). The program has established a pioneering model for integrating Digital Therapeutics (DTx) into a healthcare system with scalable and effective reimbursement strategies. To date, the continuous upward trend enabled by this framework has resulted in more than 374,000 DiGA prescriptions, increasingly cementing its role in the German healthcare system. This perspective provides a synthesis of the DiGA program's evolution since its inception three years ago, highlighting trends regarding prescriptions and pricing as well as criticisms and identified shortcomings. It further discusses forthcoming legislative amendments, including the anticipated integration of higher-risk medical devices, which have the potential to significantly transform the program. Despite encountering challenges related to effectiveness, evidence requirements, and integration within the healthcare system, the DiGA program continues to evolve and serves as a seminal example for the integration of DTx, offering valuable insights for healthcare systems globally.
Related Concept Videos
Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
Clinical Trials: Overview
Drug Administration and Therapy Phases: Overview
The pharmaceutical phase focuses on leveraging the physicochemical properties of the drug to design and manufacture an effective product. Variants include orally administered tablets or capsules, topical creams or ointments, and parenteral-delivery solutions or emulsions.
The pharmacokinetic phase...
Health Information Technology and Healthcare Information System
Health Information Technology, commonly called HIT, integrates advanced information systems and technology in healthcare settings. Its primary functions include:
Drug Regulation
Drug Control Governance: Regulatory Bodies and Their Impact

