[National infrastructures and the European Health Data Space]

The introduction of digital systems in healthcare has been under discussion for over two decades. While implementation within individual facilities is well advanced, there is still considerable room for improvement in cross-facility data exchange.

To describe the current state of digital connectivity and organizational frameworks in Germany and Austria.

Analysis and description of the legal framework and the various initiatives in both countries.

In Germany, the comprehensive introduction of an electronic health records in 2026 marks a significant step toward increasing digitalization. While the current focus is primarily on documents and electronic medication, this structure could also prove useful for image data exchange in the future. Austria, on the other hand, created structures several years ago with the introduction of ELGA (electronic health records) that allow for more comprehensive digital communication. Consequently, more has already been achieved in terms of implementing Europe-wide EU recommendations.

The status of national infrastructure implementation differs between the two countries. Overall, increasing acceptance has been observed in recent years. The European initiative for a European Health Data Space (EHDS) could lead to further intensification of the integration of digital services and interoperability.