Ahead of a planned cabinet vote on the health insurance reform, SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf is calling for a significantly increased burden on pharmaceutical companies. Speaking to the Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers, Klüssendorf argued that “a major leverage point lies with medications”. He pointed out that Germany has the highest per capita expenditure on medicines in Europe. Therefore, he stated, “the draft must significantly address drug prices and clearly limit the pricing power of pharmaceutical companies, rather than passing the bill onto families and contributors”.
Klüssendorf emphasized that pharmaceutical firms must also make their fair contribution. He stressed that ensuring supply security in the health sector is a collective responsibility between the state and industry, and should not be financed through higher contributions and co-payments.
In his criticism of the existing draft, Klüssendorf called it unbalanced, arguing that it shifts too much burden onto people who already pay high monthly contributions. According to him, increased co-payments, service cuts, and pressure on unemployment benefits would hardest hit those individuals who already struggle within the system. He asserted that families must be particularly protected, adding that “no one should have to consider, at the end of the month, whether they can afford to fill the prescription now or if they must wait until next week, or if the next doctor’s visit must be postponed”.
In other news, Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) recently signaled her openness to modifying the savings package for health expenditures. However, she stipulated that the total volume of the package must be preserved, and if that guarantee is met, she remains open to alternative proposals.