Judith Gerlach, a 1985-born politician, has expressed her views on the current state of Germany’s healthcare system, particularly in the context of the upcoming decision on the financial packages for defense and infrastructure. In an interview with the Augsburger Allgemeine, she emphasized the need to consider the medical care in the event of an emergency, given the changing global security landscape.
The article highlights the need for the healthcare system to prepare for all types of crises, despite the current challenges faced by the hospitals, such as the need for infrastructure improvements and increased costs. Gerlach stated that the military threat from Russia and the potential shift in the US’s security partnership by the new president mean that the German healthcare system and the entire civil society need to take action.
Regarding the planned large-scale package for infrastructure and defense, Gerlach stressed the importance of considering the civilian sector, not just the military, when strengthening the country’s defense. She also emphasized the need for a comprehensive “Civilian Operations Plan for Germany” to ensure the medical care of the population in the event of a war.
Gerlach further emphasized the need for the government to make clear guidelines, including adapting standards, infrastructure and stockpiling, to ensure that the healthcare system can provide care for a much larger number of people in the event of a crisis. She also called for the IT infrastructure to be protected against foreign attacks and for the country to become a stronger production site for the pharmaceutical industry to ensure the supply of medicines.
The former Bavarian Minister of Digital Affairs has requested that the necessary measures be taken quickly, in a pragmatic and non-detailed manner. She has already asked the Bavarian hospitals to provide information on their emergency and deployment plans and the responses have shown that the topic of security is already present in the minds of most hospitals, with many already optimizing their plans.