Daniel Steiner, head of Roche Pharma, argues that the planned health reform proposed by Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) focuses on the wrong issues. Speaking to the Funke media group, Steiner asserts that the genuine problem lies in inefficient structural practices that cause progress to dissipate and money to be wasted. He estimates that if modern diagnostic tests, digital systems, and innovative pharmaceuticals were implemented consistently, the statutory health insurance funds could achieve efficiency savings exceeding 20 billion euros annually-a sum that mirrors the goals of Warken’s reform.
In the context of the German healthcare system, which is managed by 93 statutory health insurance funds and 17 regional health zones, Steiner, who also serves as the vice-president of the Association for Research Pharmaceuticals, maintains that the reform is overly one-sided and lacks a comprehensive view.
His criticism extends beyond the health sector, targeting the federal government’s alleged failure to uphold its promises. Steiner recalls recent discussions in the Chancellery about how the pharmaceutical industry could act as a key sector to guide the economy out of a constant crisis. Instead of requiring subsidies, he argued that the industry chiefly needs planning security to ensure Germany remains an internationally competitive location. He stated emphatically that political announcements and actions in Germany can no longer remain decoupled.
Steiner issued a stern warning: if a comprehensive industrial strategy is not adopted, the entire pharmaceutical sector risks leaving Germany, mirroring the loss of other vital industries. He warned that proceeding with the current plans would effectively lead to a gradual deindustrialization.