Lack of investment puts the brakes on digitalisation

Although healthcare and IT have gradually converged in recent years, the German healthcare sector is a long way from its vision of Health 4.0. The digitalisation of the sector is still in its infancy, and few currently see any need for change. A mere 15 per cent of healthcare companies consider it very important to be using the latest digital technology.*  As a result, Germany lags a long way behind other countries when it comes to digitalisation.

* Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), 2016 TNS Infratest

An essential factor in digital transformation is investment in technology and employees. However, 75 per cent of the 2,000 or so hospitals in Germany are not in a position to make the necessary investment*, as they lack the necessary capital. This creates an annual investment shortfall of at least €2.6 billion and an investment backlog that is growing every year.**

* BDO AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft and the German Hospital Institute (DKI)
** Krankenhaus Rating Report 2017 (hospital rating report)

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