Disruption in the VPN access service fixed: E-recipes redeemable again

According to Gematik, a disturbance at the VPN access service of Arvato Systems Digital GmbH has now been remedied. So far, there have been no reasons for the disorder. At the beginning of the month, an “intensive error analysis” had shown an internet disorder in the VPN access service. For insured persons, doctors and pharmacists, there may therefore be restrictions on access to the services of the telematics infrastructure (Ti). Arvato has not yet commented on the disorders.

How many people were affected by the disorder is unclear. While a login in the EPA app worked for some, some of the problems when redeeming the e-recipe reported. However, according to the gematics, other applications such as the electronic disability certificate or the electronic doctor’s letter were also affected. Also had the Gematics in your specialist portal referred to “maintenance work in the central network of TI – Arvato Systems GmbH”. According to this, a provider of broadband infrastructure has “announced urgent maintenance work on the fiber optic infrastructure of a TI data center”.

The disorders are not an isolated case. Again and again practices report nationwide about failures, delays and problems when accessing the electronic patient files (EPA), the e-recipe and other digital applications. For the users, it is rarely understandable where the cause is – with the health insurance company, the central infrastructure or their own software. For example, there is currently a problem with Secunet connectors whose certificate had received a runtime extension.

Connector workaround

Anyone who has to struggle with the SecUunet disordersFor the recommendation and the gematics a workaround. Secunet, “Together with partners in the field, is currently examining the sustainability of the workaround,” says the company at the request of Heise Online. The exam takes about two days. Details on the process offers Secunet on his website. It is unclear how many connectors are affected. There have also been problems with the other two connector manufacturers.

“You would not pay money on the free market for such performance,” said family doctor Dr. Mike Müller-Glamann opposite the medical service service. “Those who expect technically completely smooth processes are currently being disappointed,” said their conclusion. In addition, a few patients have been actively using the EPA, as a report from the company health insurance funds had shown.

According to Müller-Glamann, many patients would also react shocked as soon as they learn that sensitive information may also be accessible to other healthcare service providers. “Anyone who does not use the EPA app and does not consciously decide who can see which data is driven through the area like a incapacitated lemming in the healthcare system,” said Müller-Glamann.

Mandatory from October

From October 1, 2025, the use of the electronic patient file (EPA) will be mandatory for medical practices, but insured persons can still object – provided you have not already done it. But the experiences from the test regions, for example in Hamburg, are already showing that the digital future of healthcare still fights with considerable starting difficulties.