Weltschlaganfalltag 2019: Flächendeckende Gesundheitsversorgung ist nur mit Hilfe digitaler Medizintechnik möglich

Germany has one of the world's most efficient health systems. But precisely because of demographic developments and in structurally sparsely populated areas, the health system is facing the challenge of ensuring highly qualified medical care for the future throughout Germany. 

With its innovative, digital products, the medical technology sector is an important partner for the healthcare of tomorrow. This applies in particular to emergencies, such as a stroke, the "brain attack". In the event of a stroke, approximately 2 million brain cells die per minute - with possible long-term consequences such as paralysis or speech disorders. Therefore, it is crucial how quickly a stroke can be detected and the right therapy initiated. 

"A successful competition against time in a stroke is only possible with digital medical technology. Since not every hospital has the necessary specialists such as neuro- or radiologists available at all times, external expertise can be quickly called in through telemedicine", explains Hans-Peter Bursig, Managing Director Medical Engineering Division (ZVEI). With the help of a computer tomograph (CT) or a magnetic resonance tomograph (MR), a picture of the brain is taken, which is then digitally transmitted to another hospital, where specialists make the diagnosis and then inform the treating physicians on site. All this is achieved within a few minutes.

"Telemedicine using such stroke networks as an example is the key to the best possible health care, especially in rural areas. For this reason, the digitization of the health industry must be a political priority in the work of the Federal Government. We need an eHealth target picture and an eHealth strategy for Germany derived from it in order to successfully implement the digitalization of the health industry. This is the only way to ensure nationwide health care for people at the highest level," concludes Hans-Peter Bursig.