Gematik: green tick for Telekom’s digital identity

• First approval of a digital identity for the healthcare sector in Germany
• BARMER will introduce the technology for 8.7 million insured persons with T-Systems from 2024
• Patients want to control their own data

With Telekom’s ID service, gematik has approved a digital identity for the healthcare system in Germany for the first time. It is the basis for health cards and electronic ID cards to be used via digital devices such as smartphones in the future. From 2024, health insurance companies will have to offer their insured persons digital identities. The basis is the Digital Care and Care Modernization Act (DVPMG).

Gematik boss Markus Leyck Dieken says: “The digital identity in healthcare – the GesundheitID – guarantees security and ensures more convenience with digital healthcare services. This means that insured persons have a central key for health applications such as electronic patient files, e-prescriptions and other digital health applications in their hands.”

T-Systems boss Adel Al-Saleh: “Patients want to make their own decisions about their data.”

T-Systems CEO and board member Deutsche Telekom AG Adel Al-Saleh says: “We are pleased about the green tick from gematik for our ID wallet system at BARMER. Patients want to make their own decisions about their data. With your digital identity you get secure and easy access. Technology is key to the digitalization of the healthcare system as a whole. Digital identities create trust. Almost every area of life will benefit from this in the future.”

BARMER will introduce the technology for 8.7 million insured people from 2024

In 2022, BARMER commissioned T-Systems to provide and manage digital identities for its approximately 8.7 million insured persons. Siegmar Nesch, board member at BARMER, says: “Digital identity is very important for BARMER’s insured persons and for us as a health insurance company. It will be the gateway to digital services with which we will set new standards for the protection of sensitive data. For this reason, we intensively accompanied the process towards approval.”

T-Systems Cloud from Germany – Operator cannot view any data

Digital identities are a strategic issue for Telekom. T-Systems developed the technical solution for this together with Verimi in close coordination with gematik. All data is encrypted during processing on a secure and sovereign T-Systems cloud in Germany.

Telekom follows the so-called “confidential computing” approach. Means: Data cannot be viewed by third parties. T-Systems and Verimi as operators also have no access. In this way, Telekom creates a particularly high level of trust for customers in the healthcare and public sectors. T-Systems has been a Verimi shareholder since 2017. 26 German companies are involved in Verimi. These include numerous DAX companies.

Telekom is testing digital identities in EU field tests

With digital identities, citizens have more sovereignty on the Internet. Telekom is therefore committed to the EU field tests for digital identities that are currently beginning. The company is testing the technology for activating mobile phone cards. Testing is taking place in Germany, France, Austria, Poland, the Netherlands, Greece and Ukraine.

About Deutsche Telekom: Deutsche Telekom Group profile

About the Barmers:
High-performance, committed, humane – that is BARMER, one of the largest statutory health insurance companies in Germany. Your insured persons benefit from high-quality and innovative medical care that goes far beyond the legal standard. Numerous digital offerings, from the eCare electronic patient file to the BARMER app, make everyday life easier and promote the health of the approximately 8.7 million insured people. Service around the clock on the Internet, by telephone or in person in one of around 360 branches enables quick solutions, even for complicated questions.

Media contact:
BARMER corporate communications
Thorsten Jacob
Telephone: 0800 333004 99-1451
Email: thorsten.jakob@barmer.de

This press release was originally created by T-Systems.