For all who waited for an English Version of our lates Publication, the Data Saves Lives German Ship’s log 2022 / 2023 is out now!
It's a premiere: The team at Data Saves Lives Germany has, for the first time, released results of their own analysis on the topic of health data in the new DSL DE Logbook. The "DSL DE Logbook" provides in-depth insights into how the sharing of health data is perceived and evaluated from the perspectives of patients, citizens, and experts. The context is accompanied by greetings from Federal Minister for Health Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach and a statement from the Patient Advocate of the German Federal Government, Stefan Schwartze, emphasizing the importance of health data for medical care.
"With the Logbook, we are presenting a work for the first time that includes not only statements and insights but also tendencies and solutions, as well as demands that we have drawn from the results," says Birgit Bauer, the founder and project coordinator of the initiative. Data Saves Lives Germany has been in existence for a year, founded by Birgit Bauer as a non-profit initiative and financially supported by the Federal Ministry of Health until the end of the year.
Goal: To educate and inform about health data. "We are not in competition with patient organizations; on the contrary, we want to support them, just like our European main project, which operates under the leadership of the European Patients Forum in Brussels, with neutral information and enlightenment."
Throughout this year, alongside raising awareness, the analysis of the situation from the patient's perspective was on the agenda for Birgit Bauer and Ihno Fokken from with his company called the Friesische Freiheit, who supports the Data Saves Lives Germany project. The team attended events, listened, discussed with patients, citizens, and experts to understand and analyze different perspectives. In the process, they developed a tool, called "Schwimmflügel" (armbands), designed to facilitate the start of a discussion on health data for patient organizations and support groups.
"We have kept the tool, which we call our armbands, as simple as possible to promote discussion and especially to help patient organizations find out what their patient groups think or need," says Ihno Fokken. This is complemented by the voices of various experts and interest groups, such as patient organizations, doctors, analysts, etc., expressing their views on the sharing of health data. Another crucial topic is the participation of patients and citizens in the development and decisions regarding digitalization in healthcare. "They want to have a say and be heard," confirms Birgit Bauer, who actively participates as a patient expert in various networks and committees at the European level, advocating for diverse perspectives.
"Distribution and sharing of health data can only work if we listen to patients and citizens and collaboratively shape it with them. If we don't, we will likely fail, or at least never achieve what is necessary for a healthy future: trust," says Bauer, who welcomes initial attempts at stakeholder meetings, such as the recently held meeting by the Ministry of Digital and Transport.
What the future holds is currently uncertain. The Ministry of Health's funding runs until the end of 2023. Currently, the DSL DE team is advocating for the continuation and support of Data Saves Lives Germany.
"Our common goal, also at the European level, is to continue Data Saves Lives Germany because we see success, and there is a clearly growing interest among patients and citizens!" says Ihno Fokken, who also supports the project voluntarily.
Save the Date!
Further information about the DSL DE Logbook will be shared on November 28, 2023, during an online session titled "Launch & Learn – the DSL DE Logbook," where experts, including patient representatives, will discuss various points from the Logbook.
Those who want to secure a spot in advance can do so by emailing dslde@friesischefreiheit.com.
