Medical informatics as a discipline at the beginning of the 21st century

Objectives. To analyse the present situation of the discipline medical informatics and to propose actions for change. Methods. Evaluation of the current situation mainly based on anecdotal evidence. Results. The difference between the scientific and the engineering aspects of medical informatics get blurred. Because of the requirements of European funding medical informatics focuses more on engineering than on science. Too many manuscripts are submitted that describe engineered artefacts without a scientific purpose. Some of the subjects (like security issues) that are studied in medical informatics are not considered important by medical faculties thus impeding support. Conclusions: The methodological underpinnings of our research should be strengthened, impact studies should be more frequently performed; the quality of results reporting should be increased.