Federal Health Minister Nina Warken defended her planned billion-euro savings to relieve statutory health insurance during the opening of the German Medical Association in Hanover on Tuesday. She warned that without reforms, a collapse of the system is imminent. "It is a collective effort. And yes, it is a burden," stated the CDU politician.
Warken emphasized that the current spending dynamics would inevitably lead to a system breakdown without reforms. She announced that there might still be adjustments on some points but demanded viable proposals to close the financial gap.
The minister reaffirmed the ambitious timeline to pass the law in the Bundestag before the summer break. The pressure to act is high, as the gap must be closed this year by 2027. The planned package aims to relieve the statutory health insurance by 16.3 billion euros, exceeding the expected deficit of 15.3 billion euros.
Among the planned measures are spending brakes for practices, hospitals, and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as higher co-payments for medications. Additionally, restrictions on the free co-insurance of spouses are to be introduced. President of the Physicians' Association Klaus Reinhardt previously criticized the reform sharply and called for it to be put "on hold."
