Telemedicine in Germany: between pilot projects and standard care

The TAB report outlines what is already being done, where the challenges lie, and which policy decisions could help unlock the potential of telemedical approaches
Cover TAB Focus no. 49 on the status quo and prospectives of telemedicine, January 2025.
The policy brief TAB-Fokus no. 49 summarises the most important findings of the TA project for the German Bundestag on the status quo and prospectives of telemedicine in Germany across four pages

Telemedicine is a collective term for various approaches that are realised remotely with using information and communication technologies. These ranges from video consultations (doc2patient and (doc2doc) to telemonitoring of patients vital signs to remote professional support in telemedical networks in which medical expertise can be called in to coordinate and guide treatment on site.

High expectations of telemedicine approaches

Telemedical approaches are considered to have a multifaceted potential, including providing professional expertise independently of time and location, reducing travel and waiting times, reducing hospitalisations and providing medical services more efficiently. From a health policy perspective, telemedical approaches also raise the hope of being able to meet structural challenges in the healthcare system: In times of demographic change and an increasing shortage of specialised staff, these approaches are intended to help ensuring medical care, especially in sparsely populated areas and for the growing number of chronically ill patients who require special care. The efficiency gains that might be involved are intended to help to relieve the cost pressure on social security systems.

Many pilot projects – limited regular use

For years already, various telemedical pilot projects have been carried out in Germany. Transferring those approaches to standard care as well as their widespread use are considered to be a challenge. This indicates that legal, technical, organisational, personnel and/or financial barriers are impeding technology diffusion. It is also possible that the potential of telemedicine is overestimated.

Guidance for future policy decisions

The TAB report provides a comprehensive overview of the technical, medical, administrative and legal aspects of telemedicine approaches and their current status. It identifies existing challenges and highlights areas requiring further research and action. This gives political decision-makers sound guidance for future policy decisions.

The main findings are summarised in the four-page policy brief TAB-Fokus no. 49 and its web version on the project page .

02.07.2025

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