Siemens ‘is leader’ in electronic health card connector market

Siemens has announced that it is the market leader for connectors for electronic health cards.

It reports that during the ongoing 10,000er tests conducted for the cards in Germany, over 80 per cent of hospitals, doctors’ offices and pharmacies participating in the scheme are using the CardOS HealthCare Connector from the firm.

The connectors are used to provide a link between the nationwide telematic infrastructure in place and the IT infrastructure of healthcare service providers.

Recently, the CardOS HealthCare connector picked up an honourable mention at the Red dot Design Awards for 2008 and it will receive this accolade at an awards ceremony held in late June this year.

Volker Wetekam, chief executive officer of global solutions at Siemens Healthcare, said: “Without the corresponding added value of the online functionalities, a nationwide rollout of the electronic health card results in a card that doesn’t really highlight its actual benefits in comparison with a conventional insurance card.”

He added that the added value comes from insurance master data services and other online services, which can enhance cost efficiency and boost the quality of patient care.

In February 2008, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics confirmed the transfer of part of its manufacturing and distribution operations from Los Angeles to the town of Llanberis in north-west Wales.