What will the pharmaceutical supply of the future look like?

In the Digital Public Health Podcast, host Rasmus Cloes talks to Dr. Stefan Schwenzer about the future of pharmacies in the digital healthcare system. Topics such as the e-prescription, digital medication security and competition with mail-order giants show: Digitalization offers opportunities, but poses major challenges for small pharmacies. How can they retain their role as personal healthcare advisors?

Megacorporation or local pharmacy: who will supply us with medicines in the future? In this episode of the Digital Public Health Podcast, host Rasmus Cloes talks to Dr Stefan Schwenzer, owner of the KOSMOS pharmacy in Bremen and responsible for digitalization as a member of the board of the Bremen Chamber of Pharmacists. The conversation focuses on the role of pharmacies in a digitalized healthcare system.

Specifically, we start with the introduction of e-prescriptions. Stefan explains how it facilitates work processes in pharmacies, but also brings new problems with it - such as technical failures or insufficient adaptation to everyday pharmacy life. Another key topic is medication safety. Stefan describes how digital tools are used to check interactions and create medication plans.

However, many pharmacies do not take advantage of these opportunities due to a lack of financial and human resources. Small pharmacies in particular find it difficult to bear the high costs of digital innovations. Rasmus and Stefan also talk about the vision of developing pharmacies as “digital health kiosks”. Projects such as digital blood pressure measurements and medication coaching show the potential pharmacies have in prevention.

However, this requires greater financial support from politicians, emphasizes Stefan. Another point of discussion is the competition with mail-order pharmacies and international providers. Stefan criticizes the fact that digitalization often favours large market players, while local pharmacies come under pressure. His appeal to politicians: more focus on security of supply and support for local pharmacies. Finally, Stefan gives an outlook on the future of pharmacies.

He sees great opportunities in digital innovations, but warns that personal advice and proximity to patients must be maintained. Pharmacies can remain important partners in the healthcare system - if the right framework conditions are created.

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The Digital Public Health Podcast is a production of the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, the Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health Bremen and Health Sciences Bremen.

From idea to innovation: health startups and the Bremen startup scene

Many young people dream of implementing their ideas in their own startup – including in the field of digitalization and health. But what does the path from idea to successful startup look like? In this episode of the Digital Public Health Podcast, host Rasmus Cloes talks to Jan Wessels, founder of bremen-startups.de.

Together they highlight the opportunities and challenges for founders in the healthcare industry and take a special look at the Bremen startup scene.

Jan Wessels explains how important networks and events are for founders to take their first steps and learn from the experiences of others. He shares insights into what formats are available in Bremen, how they work and how interested parties can easily network. He also shows how valuable an active startup community is for the journey from idea to implementation.

One exciting example from Bremen is Skinuvita, a startup that has developed a digital home therapy system for people with chronic skin conditions. Rasmus and Jan discuss how an innovative business idea was developed from a personal problem and what role networks and funding programs played in the process.

They also discuss why founders in the healthcare sector often struggle with concerns – for example, about bureaucracy or the high demands of the market. Jan explains how to overcome these hurdles and why it pays to find the courage to implement.

This episode offers specific tips and exciting perspectives for anyone interested in startups in the field of digitalization and health. Get inspired and learn how to successfully take your first steps in the world of digital health.

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Young scientists exchange ideas on digital public health

On 10 December 2024, the Early Career Researcher Academy (ECRA) held its inaugural workshop for the second funding phase of the Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health Bremen. Nearly 30 ECRA members participated in the workshop, including many new doctoral researchers who began their scientific work at the campus in recent weeks.

The ECRA’s spokesperson, Gowsiga Loganathan (BIPS), emphasised: "I am very pleased that so many of our new members are eager to become actively involved and already have initial ideas about how we should proceed in the second funding phase."

The workshop focused on exploring the role and significance of the ECRA in supporting the individual career development of its members. Discussions also centered on the formation of working groups to address various thematic priorities. Another important topic was the presentation of a proposed mentee-mentor program between LSC postdocs and doctoral researchers, aimed at fostering networking and providing support throughout their academic careers. The former spokesperson of the ECRA, Dr. Laura Maaß (University of Bremen, Socium), added: "The new ECRA will be more technical in terms of the academic backgrounds of its members. I look forward to working with our new members to find out how we can best accommodate their diverse needs, but I am confident that we can achieve this together and create an inspiring and supportive environment for everyone."

Currently, the ECRA comprises 60 scientists, 10 of whom are funded by the LSC DiPH (three postdocs and seven doctoral researchers) and are employed at BIPS, the University of Bremen, the Fraunhofer MEVIS Institute, and the University of Oldenburg. The remaining 50 members are associated with the research campus and the academy through their work on projects related to Digital Public Health. Furthermore, there is an alumni network facilitating exchanges with former members who have successfully completed their doctoral studies or postdoctoral periods. The ECRA plays a central role in connecting and supporting early-career researchers in the field of digital health research, both within Germany and internationally.

The event marks a promising start to the second funding phase of the Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health Bremen and continues its focus on the intensive promotion and collaboration of scientists at the beginning of their academic careers.

Digital Public Health: The digital revolution in healthcare – for everyone?

Bremen – An older woman sits in front of her smartphone. The app that her doctor recommended is supposed to help her organize her medication. But after several attempts, she gives up in frustration: “This isn't for me.” This scene is emblematic of a fundamental problem with digital health in Germany: a lot of things are technically feasible, but access is not the same for everyone.

The position paper published in the Federal Health Bulletin by the Digital Public Health department of the German Society for Public Health shows how digital health solutions can be implemented nationwide and in a socially just way. The researchers call for strategies that reach all citizens, regardless of age, income or technical affinity.

Opportunities and risks of digitalization

Digital health services such as telemedicine or health apps offer enormous opportunities. They can make healthcare more efficient and facilitate access. However, the position paper warns that if vulnerable groups – such as older people or the socially disadvantaged – are not considered when developing such solutions, the digital divide threatens to grow.

Dr. Laura Maaß, spokesperson of the department and postdoc at the Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health Bremen, puts it clearly: “I am very pleased that the Bundesgesundheitsblatt is giving us the platform to focus on the digitalization of public health, because time is of the essence! Germany needs digital solutions that are accessible to everyone. We need to promote health literacy and overcome the digital divide, otherwise we will lose the potential of digitalization for prevention and care.”

Health literacy as the key

One of the core problems is digital health literacy: many people cannot use apps or other digital tools properly. Yet the ability to understand and use such applications is crucial to making health services truly accessible. Interactive and participatory approaches could help to better involve patients and thus strengthen personal responsibility for health.

Stephanie Hoffmann, co-spokesperson for the department, adds: “New digital services for prevention, health promotion and health care must take into account people's health needs and individual requirements. Only then can they truly reach people and contribute to equal health opportunities.”

What is missing: research and teaching

The position paper also criticizes the fact that the field of digital public health is still in its infancy in Germany. Degree programs rarely address the topic, and research focuses too heavily on clinical applications. Prevention and health promotion are often left out – both in research and teaching, as well as in health policy, which focuses almost exclusively on the digitalization of medical health care. This must be addressed urgently in order to think about digitalization more broadly and sustainably.

One system for all

The researchers emphasize: Digitization in healthcare must not be an end in itself. The aim is to reduce health inequalities, strengthen prevention and make care more efficient – without excluding anyone. To achieve this, politics, science and practice must work together.

The Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health Bremen

The Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS and the University of Bremen have been cooperating in the research network since the beginning of the funding. The University of Oldenburg and OFFIS – Institute for Information Technology have been won as new partners for the second funding phase.

The Bremen Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health is one of 21 ScienceCampi focusing on a specific topic and serving to strategically network Leibniz institutes with universities and other regional partners. The aim is to create networks to further develop the respective research area and to strengthen the scientific environment. Leibniz ScienceCampi conduct strategic research, promote interdisciplinarity in topics, projects and methods, raise the profile of the respective location and strengthen its research profile.

Original publication

Maaß, L., Dockweiler, C., Hocke-Bolte, Z. et al. Digital Public Health in Deutschland: Status quo, Herausforderungen und Zukunftsperspektiven. Bundesgesundheitsbl (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-024-03989-0

How Digitalisation is Changing the Handling of Health Data

Electronic patient records, telemedicine and big data: the importance of data in the healthcare sector is growing. Since the coronavirus pandemic at the latest, it has become clear that this topic affects us all. In the 19th episode of the Digital Public Health Podcast, host Rasmus Cloes talks to Dr. Timm Intemann about how the handling of data in health research is changing.

Dr. Timm Intemann, Operational Project Manager at the Centre for Research Data Infrastructure and Data Science at BIPS, is an expert in complex datasets in the healthcare sector. In this episode of the Digital Public Health Podcast with host Rasmus Cloes, he explains what health data encompasses - from clinical and health insurance data to environmental and behavioural data. This range highlights how many factors influence our health and the importance of comprehensive data collection.

Another focus of the conversation is the challenges of data linkage in Germany. Intemann explains why Germany's federal system makes efficient use of health data difficult. He draws a comparison to Scandinavian countries, which, through central registers and citizen IDs, provide much better conditions for fast and data-protection-compliant data linkage. These international models could offer important insights for the further development of Germany's research infrastructure.

The electronic patient record (ePA) is now being rolled out nationwide. Our podcast guest describes why the opt-out procedure could be a significant step forward, even though it may take years for the ePA to fully realise its benefits for research and deliver valuable data.

Artificial Intelligence and Big Data offer new opportunities for research, especially in pattern recognition and predicting health outcomes. Intemann discusses the potential of these technologies to uncover previously unknown correlations and improve healthcare. However, he also stresses the importance of using this data responsibly and avoiding the trap of unreflective data analysis.

The podcast concludes with visions for the future of health research. Intemann emphasises that the ideal handling of health data relies not only on technology but also on clear legal frameworks and human collaboration in research.

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The Digital Public Health Podcast is a production of the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, the Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health Bremen and Health Sciences Bremen.

Speaker

Professor Dr. Hajo Zeeb
E-Mail: zeeb(at)leibniz-bips.de
Tel: +49 421 21856902
Fax: +49 421 21856941

Project Office

Dr. Moritz Jöst
E-Mail: joest(at)leibniz-bips.de
Tel: +49 421 21856755
Fax: +49 421 21856941

Press

Rasmus Cloes
E-Mail: cloes(at)leibniz-bips.de
Tel: +49 421 21856780
Fax: +49 421 21856941

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