At the BMG conference „Health literacy in the digital age“, there was much discussion among all participants. However, the discussion focused on the establishment of the national health portal, which aims to improve the health competence of people living in Germany. The portal is thus intended to provide quality-assured and evidence-based information that is understandable to all. It will, therefore, go online in the middle of this year, after Federal Health Minister Hermann Gröhe had already announced the establishment of the portal in 2017. The national health portal will then produce independent, scientifically proven and understandable health information via the Internet that is serious and valid. Initially, selected areas are to appear on the net, but these will be continually expanded. In addition, serious scientific partners have been brought on board, such as the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG), but also the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) and the Robert Koch Institute. The necessary budget funds have already been made available. Digitisation also exacerbates the problem that many people with a low level of education or migration background simply do not understand much health information. The flood of information is so great that it is no longer possible to distinguish between serious and dubious news. This is why some experts at the symposium also advocate communication with doctors and not just the digital transformation of health data. Every patient needs a willingness to actively participate in his therapeutic measures, according to the President of the German Medical Association, Klaus Reinhardt. The e-prescription also had the potential for discussion at the event. Andreas Gassen, Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, criticised the different versions of prescriptions, in paper form or as a QR code, which lead to further irritation of patients in the process of digitalisation in the healthcare system.
