Pharmacy Directory Data Provision Changes: From Gedisa to FHIR Standard
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Summary
The pharmacy directory data provision service, involving the German Pharmacists' Association (DAV), is transitioning from the traditional Gedisa system to a new system utilizing international FHIR standards. This allows pharmacies to manage 'value-added data,' such as opening hours, more easily and cost-effectively without relying on external vendors.
Details
The pharmacy directory service, previously managed by the German Pharmacists' Association (DAV) and available through Gematik since 2022, is undergoing a major overhaul. Previously, adjusting 'value-added data' (e.g., opening hours) required using Gedisa. This mechanism has now been discontinued. The new system introduces a VZD (Verzeichnisdienst) utilizing the international FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) standard, managed by Gematik. This allows pharmacies to update their own data directly through their websites or dedicated inventory management systems. Gematik frames this as a service that bypasses costly third-party vendors. This change eliminates the need for pharmacies to pay monthly fees (estimated at 50 Euros) to Gedisa, resulting in cost savings. However, the DAV has criticized the transition, recommending that pharmacies coordinate with their respective AVS vendor and potentially update information manually via the TI-Auskunftsportal. This transformation fundamentally changes how pharmacy searching and data sharing occur through the E-Rezept (e-prescription) app in Germany, symbolizing a shift toward international standards (FHIR).
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