"144 million doctor's letters are still being sent out"
A larger number of patients are now booking doctor appointments using the software of the French company Doctolib. Nikolay Kolev, Germany CEO, explains what happens with the data and why doctor letters are still necessary.
They advertise that patients should take control of their health. What exactly do you mean by that?
Nikolay Kolev: Perhaps a few numbers to illustrate: The healthcare system in Germany accounts for approximately 13% of the Gross Domestic Product. That's almost more than in any other country in the world. At the same time, we'll be lacking 1.8 million healthcare professionals in the coming years. We invest heavily, but doctors and nurses are completely overloaded.
How should that change through an app? What you offer is more efficient appointment scheduling. But that doesn't change the fact that there are not enough doctors in some places.
We can make a significant difference in one area. In practices and hospitals, a large part of the time is spent on administrative processes. It's not just about appointments, but also about communication with patients, secure document transmission, and handling messages. There are still 144 million doctor letters being sent. That's something we can change.
With Doctolib, a large amount of sensitive patient data falls, documents can be uploaded so that doctors have access to them. How can data protection be ensured?
For us, the General Data Protection Regulation in Europe is a clear framework, effectively setting a standard. Doctolib's standards have undergone numerous ISO certifications. The data is stored in Germany, there are encryption measures. It's clear that trust is essential for the digitalization in healthcare to take hold.
Another topic is the question of how secure the data running through the system are. With Doctolib, there are theoretically several entry points for IT attacks: in the software itself and at the interface with the doctor's practice. How can this process be protected?
That's a good question, and it's a concern for smaller practices as well. We certainly have processes and people dedicated to this issue. It's about a combination of expertise and close cooperation with the authorities.
It's often said that digitalization in German healthcare is coming along very slowly. Is that really the case when compared to other countries?
I believe we need a fact-based discussion about how and by whom data is used. It's said worldwide that data is the greatest treasure. And we would be poorly advised if we didn't position ourselves at the forefront, of course, based on European ethical requirements.
Shouldn't we have a healthy skepticism?
That's important, especially when it comes to health. At the same time, it's about creating transparency and trust. I'm missing that right now.
Interview with Nikolay Kolev by Nils Kreimeier
This interview has been edited and smoothed out for better readability.
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Why Doctolib acquired a AI startupHow the company collaborates with Charité in BerlinHow many doctors and nurses use the system
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The digitization of the healthcare industry could significantly reduce the time spent on administrative tasks, such as communication with patients and secure document transmission. This could help alleviate the workload of overloaded doctors and nurses. (Digitization, Healthcare industry, Administration, Doctors, Nurses)
Investing in digital solutions like Doctolib can help ensure data protection by adhering to strict regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation and implementing measures like encryption and data storage in secure locations. (Data protection, General Data Protection Regulation, Encryption, Data storage, Doctolib)
As the healthcare system in Germany continues to be heavily reliant on human resources, start-ups like Doctolib can play a crucial role in improving efficiency by leveraging technology, not just in scheduling appointments but also in areas like data management and communication. (Healthcare system, Germany, Start-ups, Efficiency, Technology)
