Jean Dietzel is an advisor for Cara Care. He supports the team with health economics and outcome research, with a focus on the Digital Care Act (DVG) and Digital Health Applications Ordinance (DiGAV) in Germany.
Through this legislation, doctors in Germany will soon be able to prescribe Cara Care to patients with irritable bowel syndrome, with the cost reimbursed by health insurance companies.
What’s your story? How did you become an expert in the German healthcare system?
I studied health economics and health policy. In that sense, my career was predetermined. After finishing my degree, I worked 7 years for IGES. IGES is a leading consulting and research company in the German healthcare system. With each project, I improved my knowledge and skills.
Where do you see digital health offerings moving to in the next five years?
The Digital Healthcare Act (DVG) provides the regulatory conditions to make digital health offerings a success in Germany. Now it’s up to Cara Care to make the best out of the environment. The job in the next five years will be to bring innovative digital products to patients, and to convince physicians to integrate these products into their daily routine. If that happens, we will see digital health offerings becoming an important element in the system.
You’re an advisor for Cara Care. What do you think is something unique that Cara Care offers?
Cara Care is very skilled in taking the patient’s perspective into account. That’s something the traditional healthcare system tries very hard to achieve, but often struggles with.
