Federal Minister of Health, Nina Warken (CDU), has initiated a debate over the structure of German healthcare during her ongoing review of potential reforms, specifically questioning the number and necessity of the statutory health insurance funds. Speaking to Bild am Sonntag, Warken questioned whether the current system required such a large number of separate funds, suggesting that stronger governance rules might be necessary.
In line with her desire for structural change, Warken expressed openness to introducing new requirements, such as setting a minimum number of insured members for these funds. She noted that this specific matter was currently under review by a commission.
Addressing criticism that the insurance funds were not contributing enough towards systemic cost savings, the minister stated that her own proposal already held the funds accountable and imposed stricter conditions than those suggested by the commission. She detailed concrete spending limitations, including restricting administrative expenses, curbing advertising costs, and limiting the compensation paid to directors and senior managers.
Regarding the potential “sugar tax” on sugary drinks, Warken remained reserved. While she supported the concept for preventative measures-suggesting it aligns with the strategies used by other countries-she emphasized that the political discussion surrounding the topic was not yet finalized within the federal government. For the tax to be implemented, further internal consultation on the matter of sugar consumption was required.