[Introduction of the electronic health card in Germany: influence of interest positions and sector membership on the establishment of an implementation network]

Abstract

This article raises the question as to which mode of governance has been established for the implementation of the electronic health card (eHC) in Germany and which coordination problems have emerged. It will be shown that the amalgamation of two different policy domains - namely health-care and innovation policy - leads to a novel governance configuration in which information exchange (hence governance) is affected by sector membership and interest similarity as opposed to anticipated financial burdens or influence reputation in the newly established policy domain. The study is based on a standardised survey of 29 organisations that are involved in the implementation of the eHC. The analysis is carried out using quantitative methods such as social network analysis.