Legal framework for the use of digital health applications in healthcare and research

Digital healthcare applications (DiHA) have been part of the statutory benefits catalogue since 2019 and can now be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists; however, they are not yet considered to be very widespread. The DiHAs not only offer the opportunity to support patients in situations and areas where the healthcare system does not provide sufficient resources. The data collected by the DiGA during use can also represent a valuable source of knowledge for the purpose of optimizing treatment by physicians as well as for (healthcare) research in general. The article therefore provides an overview of the legal framework for the prescription of DiHAs in the context of medical treatment and the possibility of further use of the data obtained from DiHAs, in light of the current draft legislation for a Health Data Utilization Act and an Act to accelerate the digitalization of the healthcare system.