SCM Microsystems Enters German Healthcard Terminal Market

Germany is in the process of deploying a new intelligent, electronic healthcard to its citizens throughout the country. 80 million intelligent healthcards are expected to be in use by 2006. The new chip-based healthcards are intended to bring greater efficiency and cost control to the German healthcare system while safeguarding confidential patient-related data. The healthcards will also require a new terminal infrastructure for healthcare providers. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2005, 1.2 million terminals will be shipped to doctors and dentists’ offices, pharmacies, clinics and hospitals in Germany. SCM’s new terminal solution will read and operate both with Germany’s current memory card-based healthcard as well as with the new intelligent chip-based healthcard. The SCM terminal can be connected via USB or a serial interface to stand-alone PCs or alternatively the terminals can be used in a network environment within or between doctors’ offices, pharmacies and hospitals. SCM Microsystems will participate in this market together with its partners IBM and Giesecke & Devrient. Within the new German healthcard program three different types of cards will be used: the electronic healthcard for people covered by their health insurance, a health professional card (HPC) for doctors and pharmacists and a secure module card (SMC) in a SIM card form factor. SCM’s terminals are designed to read all three types of cards. In addition to a savings potential of one billion Euros from the streamlining of processing between medical practices and health insurance companies, a major goal of the new healthcard system is to increase the quality and transparency of healthcare transactions for patients. The new intelligent healthcard system will facilitate applications such as ePrescription, access to emergency data and the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) as well as support for disease management programs. Protecting patient data is also critical, and will be accomplished through strong authentication of cardholders, using mechanisms such as a private PIN code.