Germany Launches €4.3 Billion Fund for Digital Healthcare Improvement
The German Parliament has approved a €4.3 billion fund ('Krankenhaus Zukunftsfonds') aimed at enhancing digital infrastructure in hospitals. Funding is available for robotics-assisted surgical systems and other digital health initiatives.
The German Bundestag passed the Hospital Future Act (KHZG) in September 2020, establishing the Hospital Future Fund (KHZF). This fund is designed to upgrade the digital infrastructure of German hospitals. Starting January 2021, the federal government committed €3 billion, covering 70% of eligible project costs.
Hospital operators or federal states are required to cover the remaining 30% of expenses. In total, up to €4.3 billion is available nationwide. The German Ministry of Health has encouraged hospitals to apply for funding to acquire and develop advanced digital systems, including robotics-assisted surgical systems. Projects developing telemedical networks and supporting the use of telemedicine are also eligible.
Eligible projects must adhere to internationally recognized standards for the interoperability of digital services. They must also incorporate state-of-the-art information security measures and ensure patient data can be transferred to electronic health records. The funding prioritizes open and standardized interfaces.
Applications were to be submitted by hospital operators to the Bundesamt für Soziales Sicherung (BAS) through their respective federal states by December 31, 2021. Unused funds are to be returned to the federal government by the end of 2023. The funding applies to projects that commenced on or after September 2, 2020.