The German government revealed plans to begin issuing electronic health cards by January 2006 to customers of every health insurer in the country, a move that is anticipated to save the country up to $1.7 billion in three years.

All physicians, hospitals, pharmacists and service providers will also be issued professional cards that allow them to read patients' cards, put prescriptions on them and sign all entries. The card will be interoperable with the European Union health card to be introduced in 2008

In total, thirteen European countries have introduced smart cards to replace the paper-based reciprocal health agreements used to provide citizens' health insurance and personal information when they travel to other member countries

The patient information on Germany's health card will come in two parts. The administrative part contains data on patients' insurance status, their rights to be treated abroad and their prescriptions. The optional medical part contains only information that patients approve, such as drugs they take, emergency data, previous operations or their personal health documentation.