Merz: 10 percent reduction in health insurance contributions for data providers

The introduction of the "electronic patient record for everyone" is arousing interest. According to Merz (CDU), privacy could become subject to a fee in the future. Anyone with concerns about the protection of their data would have to dig deep into their pockets. The launch of the "electronic patient record for everyone" increasingly hints at the direction health data could take. While police authorities are seeking access to this data as part of law enforcement, Friedrich Merz (CDU) suggested in a campaign speech that those who make their health data available could benefit financially. Although this proposal is not part of the election platform, he hinted at the idea and gave potential voters an insight into his thinking.

Merz stated that those who store all their health data on the electronic health card would pay 10 percent less in health insurance contributions than those who have reservations and do not want to share their data. This statement was met with criticism, including from security researcher Bianca Kastl on Mastodon. She warned that financial incentives to store health data would only exacerbate existing inequalities in the healthcare system. People without discriminated diagnoses could benefit from savings, while those who lack the confidence to share their health data digitally face additional financial burdens. Kastl sees this as a vicious circle that particularly affects people with stigmatizing illnesses, who would now have to pay extra for the protection of their privacy.

Data treasures in focus: Merz and Microsoft on using data to increase productivity

According to Merz, the debate on data protection often focuses more on the use of data than on the use of data, even though the public is already more advanced in this area than politicians. In this context, the CDU/CSU candidate for chancellor mentioned a conversation with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella during the last World Economic Forum. Nadella explained that German SMEs possess a "great treasure" of data within their companies – from that collected in production, sales, purchasing, human resources management, and many other areas. If this data is used correctly in combination with artificial intelligence, productivity increases could be achieved. However, it remains unclear how these findings can be transferred to the use of health data. What is clear, however, is that Microsoft is also promoting programs such as Dragon Ambient Experience in Germany, and its software is increasingly being used in hospitals.

Will data protection soon cost extra?

Experts have already noted in the past that insured persons could sell their data to health insurance companies, as reported by Tagesspiegel Background. This data is considered particularly valuable. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has also repeatedly pointed to the untapped and growing treasure trove of data associated with electronic patient records and the Health Research Data Center – a treasure trove in which Microsoft is also interested. With a unique data infrastructure, Lauterbach is pursuing the goal of returning Germany to the global leadership. As part of his pharmaceutical strategy, the minister introduced the Health Data Use Act (GDNG) and the Medical Research Act to ensure that pharmaceutical companies relocate their locations to Germany.