From October 1, 2025, all doctors, clinics, and hospitals in Germany will be required to use the electronic patient record (ePA).
It’s a major step in the digital transformation of the German healthcare system — designed to make medical care faster, safer, and more transparent.
What is the ePA?
The ePA (elektronische Patientenakte) is your digital health record.
It stores all your medical information — test results, diagnoses, prescriptions, and doctor’s notes — and you can access it anytime and anywhere from your phone or computer.
Health insurance providers have already created an ePA for everyone who didn’t opt out.
Since April 2025, the system has been available nationwide, and from October 2025, all healthcare providers must use it.
Key benefits for you
- Full transparency: check your medical data whenever you need it.
- Medication safety: linked with e-prescriptions to prevent harmful drug interactions.
- Convenience: no more repeating tests or carrying paper reports.
- Privacy control: you decide which doctor can see what.
- Support access: a trusted person can manage your record if needed.
What’s included in your ePA
- Medical reports and test results
- Sick notes and care documentation
- Data from chronic disease management programs (DMP)
- Organ donor status and living will information
Doctors and healthcare providers are required by law to update your ePA.
If a provider refuses, they can be reported to your health insurance fund or medical association.
All ePA data is stored on secure servers located in Germany, protected by strict privacy laws (GDPR compliant).
Your records are updated automatically, so there’s nothing you need to do to keep your information up to date.
Want to check if your ePA is already active?
Contact your health insurance provider or log into their official app to see if your record is available.
