Digital health in Germany: An edition of the Bundesgesundheitsblatt highlights future potential

Innovative research for a healthier future

The COVID-19 pandemic has given a major boost to digitalization in the healthcare sector, but has also revealed problems. The current issue of the Bundesgesundheitsblatt collects important findings from research on how digital technologies influence public health. From overcoming digital divides and strengthening digital health literacy to legal and ethical considerations on digital health technologies, the issue offers a comprehensive insight into current debates and progress.

"The booklet is a major step forward in the discussion on digital health in Germany. It shows how important it is for experts from different fields to work together to harness the benefits of digitalization in healthcare for everyone," says a delighted Prof. Dr Hajo Zeeb, spokesperson for the Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health Bremen and Head of the Department of Prevention and Evaluation at the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS. Zeeb continues: "Digitalisation can help us to make health offers and services better and more accessible to everyone. However, we must also ensure that digital technologies are developed and used fairly and ethically so that no one is disadvantaged."

The contributions, largely influenced by the work at the Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health Bremen, cover a wide range of topics. They range from the need to make digital technologies fair and inclusive to the presentation of new approaches for integrating digital solutions into healthcare and education.

Invitation to dialogue and further development

With this publication, the Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health Bremen invites experts and the public to participate in the ongoing debate on the role of digitalization in healthcare. It underlines the importance of research and innovation to fully exploit the opportunities of digitalization while minimizing its risks.

For more information and access to the articles, please visit the Bundesgesundheitsblatt website.

The Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health Bremen is one of a total of 24 ScienceCampi with a thematic focus, which serve the strategic networking of Leibniz institutes with universities and other regional partners. The aim is to create networks in order to further develop the respective research area and strengthen the scientific environment. Leibniz ScienceCampi conduct strategic research, promote interdisciplinarity in topics, projects and methods, make the respective location visible and strengthen its research profile.

The BIPS - health research in the service of people

The population is at the center of our research.As an epidemiological research institute, we see it as our task to identify the causes of health disorders and to develop new concepts for the prevention of diseases.Our research provides the basis for social decisions.It informs the population about health risks and contributes to a healthy living environment.

BIPS is a member of the Leibniz Association, which comprises 96 independent research institutes.The focus of the Leibniz Institutes ranges from the natural, engineering and environmental sciences to economics, spatial and social sciences and the humanities.Leibniz Institutes are dedicated to socially, economically and ecologically relevant issues.Due to their national importance, the federal and state governments jointly fund the institutes of the Leibniz Association.The Leibniz Institutes employ around 21,000 people.The total budget of the institutes is more than two billion euros.