Atos Origin selected by a leading German health insurance company to implement the new electronic health card

Guaranteeing simple and secure exchange of health data

Frankfurt/Main, Atos Worldline, an Atos Origin Company, has signed a 5-year contract with leading German health Insurance Company, Gmünder ErsatzKasse (GEK), to implement and operate the issuing and management of the new German electronic health card (eHC). In 2009, GEK plans to issue 30,000 cards per day in order to provide its 1.7 million members in Germany with the new card. One of the German public authorities’ most important IT projects, the eHealth card is an important step in the modernisation of European health systems. It is designed to guarantee the simple and secure exchange of data between insured parties, doctors, pharmacists and health insurance companies.


The introduction of the new electronic health card helps to connect together people, pharmacists, doctors, hospitals as well as the private and statutory health insurance companies, and aims at simplifying and accelerating exchanges, thereby doing away with any paperwork.


Atos Worldline has been selected by GEK to implement and operate the issuing and management of eHealth cards. Services include the implementation of the health insurance data, the running of the card application and management system. The solution is based on the Atos Worldline proven card application management system for the electronic health card ‘Worldline eGK KAMS’. Atos Worldline’s integrated solution for the Public Key Infrastructure ensures that patient data is securely stored.


The keys for the electronic health card provided by Atos Origin are approved as trusted services by Gematik (Gesellschaft für Telematikanwendungen der Gesundheitskarte mbH). The solution is modular and covers all safety requirements for the card application management service. The security requirements for key management, card personalisation, online card updates and health insurance agency requests (VSDD) along with card application directory services are supported in accordance with Gematik’s requirements and comply with the instructions from the German Ministry for Health.


“In order to ensure the required security and high availability of the electronic health card system internally, we therefore decided to outsource the service and awarded the contract to Atos Worldline. Their experience in the health administration and proven competence in processing large volume electronic exchanges together with their ‘integration’ and ‘business process outsourcing’ models were key factors in our selection process.” explains Norbert Schurr, Project Leader eHC at GEK.


“We are delighted to support GEK in the deployment of this strategic project for the German public authorities. As developer, provider and operator of the solution, we have the required expertise to implement a solution in line with Gematik’s security specifications and under GEK requirements”, states Willy Heeren, Director Payment Systems Integration at Atos Worldline.

About GEK
GEK is Germany’s fifth largest health insurance company, with around 1.7 million customers. Over 2,000 employees in 200 locations all over Germany strive to make sure customers receive the best service.


About Atos Origin
Atos Origin is an international information technology services company. Its business is turning client vision into results through the application of consulting, systems integration and managed operations. The company’s annual revenues are EUR 5,8 billion and it employs over 50,000 people in 40 countries. Atos Origin is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic Games and has a client base of international blue-chip companies across all sectors. Atos Origin is quoted on the Paris Eurolist Market and trades as Atos Origin, Atos Worldline and Atos Consulting.


Atos Worldline, an Atos Origin company
Atos Worldline is a major European IT player in the processing of high-volume electronic transactions. It specialises in end-to-end payment services including issuing, acquiring and developing payment technology solutions; card processing; CRM & eServices (internet, voice and mobile services). With the focus on technological innovation, Atos Worldline implements its solutions in processing or integration mode. Atos Worldline generates annual revenues of EUR 654 million and employs over 4,000 people.