Secure digital vaccination certificate to become possible soon
A broad-based consortium is injecting momentum into the digitization of the Swiss healthcare system and presenting a concept for how Switzerland can build a secure electronic vaccination card - where citizens have data sovereignty at all times.
Something is happening with the electronic vaccination card. After For data protection reasons, a first attempt to digitally manage vaccinations performed, failed, Swiss citizens should once again have the opportunity to collect, manage and use their vaccination data electronically. To make this possible, a broad consortium has published a feasibility study. Represented in the panel are the Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH, the Association of Swiss Doctors FMH, Pharma Suisse, HCI Solutions, Interpharma and the cooperative MIDATA.
Secure electronic vaccination card is possible
The study shows: A secure electronic vaccination card is possible. And the added value of such a card would be considerable: "It would give citizens sovereignty over their vaccination data. They alone decide to whom they make them available," explains Professor Serge Bignens of the BFH and adds: "At the same time, they can be better informed and sensitized about the benefits of vaccinations.
This would enable better control of one's own vaccination protection, which in turn would increase public health. In addition, an "e-vaccination dossier" simplifies access for physicians and pharmacists to the current vaccination status, which in turn also makes it possible to retrieve electronic vaccination recommendations. Finally, researchers can use anonymized vaccination data to discover new insights and correlations. This is made possible by the use of the data platform of the non-profit cooperative MIDATA.
Switzerland is lagging behind in the use of health data, as shown by international studies such as the Bertelsmann Foundation's Digital Health Index, in which Switzerland ranks fourth to last. Yet the experiences of recent years have once again highlighted how important a functioning health data ecosystem is for society. After all, it is also data from this ecosystem that helps to further develop vaccines.
Overriding principles: Robust data protection and data sovereignty for patients
The feasibility study was drawn up along certain key principles. In addition to the data sovereignty of citizens, data protection is also central. This has top priority in the concept developed. Furthermore, the concept is public and the standards of the proposed solution are widely applicable, which means that the model can be expanded as desired. The authors have also ensured that the proposed solution is compatible with other initiatives - in particular with the electronic patient dossier (EPD).
According to the authors, the study comes at the right time, because it is also interesting for the federal administration. The federal administration is currently working on the introduction of a vaccination card in the EPD.
Source: BFH
