INDICATORS

GERMANY
Data availability by Country Report: 78% of ECHI shortlist indicators are available
in international data sources. The ECHI shortlist sections for which there are most data
missing are Health care and Health status.
Data availability by ECHIM Survey: 92% of ECHIM Survey indicators are available at
the national level. Most of the data for the health care indicators are from administrative
data sources and data from social insurance carriers. Data for most health determinants
indicators are produced by health interview surveys. They include both national and
international surveys. The last representative health examination survey was carried
out in 1998; the next one will start in 2008. ECHIM Survey reveals there are more
data existing than are available in international data sources. In addition to that, some
indicator data that exist based on ECHIM Survey results do not necessarily meet the
definitions of the international data sources. However, there are data already existing
that could be derived to international databases.
Data availability in European context: Data availability in Germany is better
than European average. Most data come from surveys, social insurance carriers and
administrative sources.
Overall situation of data sources: The Robert Koch Institute (RKI, www.rki.de) is
responsible for general health monitoring on the national level. It is specialised in
health interview and examination surveys. Together with the Federal Statistical Office
(FSO, www.destatis.de) the RKI is also responsible for Federal Health Reporting. The
Federal Health Reporting service provides a free online information system for all health
data (www.gbe-bund.de). Other organisations gathering health data include Cancer
Register. Data sources are fairly complete; only data for use of prescription medicines are
incomplete. Data for only reimbursed medicines are available. At the moment record
linkage is not possible because of strict data protection legislation.
Health reporting: RKI published national health reports and topic specific analytical
reports (www.rki.de/gbe) on a great variety of issues. Results of the national health
monitoring system will be made available via an online information system and
periodical publications.
Main problems: German health monitoring is based on an established set of instruments
and measures. The integration of the EHIS instrument would lead to a break in the
existing time series which would pose a problem for the analysis of time trends.
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