Insurance organization AOK to drive Germany’s first healthcare pilot program based on highly secure microprocessor cards

Stuttgart, Germany, March 27, 2008–Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, today announces that its German electronic health cards have been successfully tested in pilot regions. Taking place in different regions of Germany, these trials test the infrastructure and components of the Gemalto solution before the nation-wide roll out in 2009.
The implementation of the smart health card is actually the most important project for the modernization of the public health system in Germany and also the largest project based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology in the world. It involves 80 million patients, 188.000 doctors and dentists, 2,200 hospitals and 21,000 pharmacies.

Gemalto was awarded the tender by AOK in July 2007 to supply and personalize 35 million e-health cards for their insured in Germany.

The pilot region of Ingolstadt in Bavaria is one of seven regions in Germany in which tests started to check the interrelation of the e-health card (eGK) with other components of the extensive telematic infrastructure. In this test in Ingolstadt, up to 10.000 insured, 30 doctors, 16 pharmacists and two hospitals are actually participating and the tests run through several phases. The e-health card in combination with the doctor’s health professional card works as a key function once the eGK enables the access to medical data securely stored in the system. Thanks to the e-health card, the German health system will be updated with the latest information and communication technology.

The e-health cards in Ingolstadt provided by the AOK Bavaria are mainly delivered by Gemalto with personalization services in the Gemalto plant in Filderstadt near Stuttgart.

“These tests are crucial to the further roll out of this ambitious program”, comments Georg Steck, Project Manager at AOK Bavaria. “What is at stake with this program is key to the future of the German healthcare system as a whole; we’re talking about improving service to patients, improving quality in medical care, giving patients greater role and responsibility and more benefits. The new electronic health card is addressing all these needs, so we take the necessary steps to succesfully reach that goal. And we are happy to see that the cards in the field have been successfully tested.”

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL 0000400653 GTO) is the leader in digital security with pro forma 2007 annual revenues of over €1.6 billion, more than 85 offices in 40 countries and about 10,000 employees including 1,300 R&D engineers. In a world where the digital revolution is increasingly transforming our lives, Gemalto’s solutions are designed to make personal digital interactions more convenient, secure and enjoyable. Gemalto provides end-to-end digital security solutions, from the development of software applications through design and production of secure personal devices such as smart cards, SIMs, e-passports, and tokens to the deployment of managed services for its customers. More than a billion people worldwide use the company’s products and services for telecommunications, financial services, e-government, identity management, multimedia content, digital rights management, IT security, mass transit and many other applications.

As the use of Gemalto’s software and secure devices increases with the number of people interacting in the digital and wireless world, the company is poised to thrive over the coming years. Gemalto was formed in June 2006 by the combination of Axalto and Gemplus. For more information please visit http://www.gemalto.com.

Contacts

Gemalto
Rémi Calvet
Tel: +33 (0) 1 55 01 64 10
Mob: +33 (0) 6 22 72 81 58
E-mail: remi.calvet@gemalto.com

Aline Borne
T.: +33 (0)1 55 01 51 05
M.: +33 (0)6 16 29 87 04
E-mail: aline.borne@gemalto.com

TBWACorporate
Sophie Mazoyer
Tel: +33 (0) 1 49 09 26 87
Mob: +33 (0) 6 07 21 08 77
E-mail: sophie.mazoyer@tbwa-corporate.com