Electronic patient dossier: break with post-monopoly

The post-daughter Sanela annoys important customers: she wanted to quadruple the prices of the IT infrastructure for the electronic patient dossier. Now three providers are going their own way.

The almost endless history of the electronic patient dossier (EPD) takes a new turn: three providers come off from the IT platform of the post and join together in 2026 to form the Cara joint platform. The providers EHEALTH Aargau, Esanita from Eastern Switzerland and Cara from Romandia will use their own IT infrastructure at the latest from next January.

This thwarts the plans of the post office, which has been working on its leadership role in the area of ​​E-Health for years-supported by the Federal Council, to standardize the IT solution for the patient dossier throughout Switzerland. The post does not calm down for this: In addition to the structure and development of the IT platform, the post office also bought providers Like the Axsana company. She has invested more than 100 million francs in the past ten years.

The strategy seemed to work: At the end of 2024, the post office announced that Use around 90 percent of EPD providers in Switzerland to use the Sanela Post platform. And she announced a new platform with better functions on 2025.

« Monopoly performed »

But now three providers are rehearsing the pants lunch: they come off the post-infrastructure. EHEATTH Aargau was the first provider to dare to break by post, as managing director Nicolai Lütschg says. «We received a relatively strong price increase from the post office last year. We then decided not to renew the contracts and to develop their own project. »

It sounds similar to the trunk company Esanita, which has its roots in Graubünden and St. Gallen. « We have not extended the contracts with the post because she played out her monopoly situation, » says Managing Director Richard Pratt. « Because we have to co -finance every development step, the new platform would have cost us four times more than before. » Esanita switches to the new platform in summer, and from 2026 the tribal company Cara, the largest EPD provider of Switzerland, will also be added.

Not only the higher prices have moved the renegade to go their own way. They were also dissatisfied with the technical solutions of the post office. This is with your own EMEDO platform, says Richard Patt: « We are close to the users and can take up your needs directly. »

Adhesive at the customers of Swiss Post

The fact that the post -nabting from Swiss Post does not make it lightly shows that the many work that is behind the new project. Nicolai Lütschg says that the basis for a new platform has already passed. EMEDO was already EPD certified. But all data had to be migrated. «That cost a lot of effort. We did not search for this solution, many even advised against it, »says Lütschg. Ultimately, however, the goal is to offer the population an efficient, safe and free health service. That is now guaranteed. The providers call an app that is « functional ».

For the post office, the development is a herber blow. On request, the press office writes that the post office regretted the decision because it is convinced that the EPD could only have an effect if all actors only used one platform. She also points out that she continues to look after the most dossiers in the future. Nevertheless, the loss of customers is great: Status today, 110,693 patients have an electronic patient dossier, of which 43,675 people belong to one of the three providers who are now leaving. In the case of hospitals, doctors, Spitex and nursing homes (service providers), 4134 from a total of 5201 change to the new platform.

The competition is open. Both platforms advertise new customers. Which product prevails is not necessarily a question of user -friendliness or security. It is crucial who the Federal Council is awarded. This plans a change in the law – including to centralize the technical infrastructure. So there will only be one provider in the future.