Digital healthcare solutions are on the rise

Doctors can currently prescribe six apps on prescription. They are intended, for example, to combat sleep problems or anxiety disorders, help with chronic tinnitus and support weight loss. Private health insurers see this as the future of their industry.

An app on prescription: after the law came into force in 2019, six apps have now been approved on the market. They all had to undergo a three-month inspection by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices and receive certification.

The Invirto app is the most recent approval from December 3. It supports people with anxiety disorders with virtual reality goggles. This allows doctors and psychotherapists to experience situations that cause anxiety together with their patients. Kalmeda provides support for chronic tinnitus, while Vivira treats back, knee and hip pain with exercise instructions. Zanadio supports weight reduction for medical reasons through obesity therapy, which includes diet, exercise and behavior. These four apps have so far been provisionally included in the register. After twelve months of use, the apps must prove that their positive effects are permanent, otherwise they will be removed from the registry.

Two apps have already passed this test: Somnio helps with problems falling asleep and sleeping through the night, while Velibra is used to combat anxiety and panic disorders.

The numerous providers seem to have arrived at just the right time. This is because private health insurers now see the greatest potential in their industry in health apps: according to 94% of the 16 board members of private health insurance companies surveyed for a Deloitte study. However, this includes not only medical apps such as Somnio or Velibra, but also fitness apps, for example. In addition, the private health insurers see digitalization as the most relevant driver of change in the industry with 100 percent agreement.

According to market research institute EPatient Analytics, 20 million Germans use health apps and around 10 million use diagnostic apps. The coronavirus pandemic in particular has seen an increase, with the use of diagnostic apps alone rising by three percent since the spring.