Nina Warken, the new Health Minister of Germany, sees her lack of prior knowledge in the field as a strength. In an interview with the “Spiegel” magazine, she stated, “Due to my lack of knowledge, I am not influenced by any particular group.” Warken’s task is to filter the correct information from the conversations she has and avoid jumping to false conclusions. No one can claim that she only listens to one side of the healthcare system. “I listen to everything, but at the end of the day, I am the one who makes the decisions.”
The 46-year-old lawyer, who has primarily focused on internal politics in her political career with the CDU, has now conducted a “speed dating” session with the department heads of the ministry in her first days in office. She will outline her plans for the healthcare sector in the Bundestag on Thursday.
Even interest groups see her outsider status as a benefit: “Not coming directly from health policy or the healthcare system does not play a decisive role in my view” said Jens Baas, CEO of the Techniker Krankenkasse, in an interview with the “Spiegel.” “With Jens Spahn, the health insurance companies were very well-funded due to strong economic conditions. There was a reform pressure, but not in connection with large financial gaps. With Karl Lauterbach, the money was already tight, but the coronavirus initially overshadowed everything. Now the funds are empty and Warken will have to cut costs and push major reforms. The success of Nina Warken as Health Minister will be measured by whether she has the courage to tackle these major reforms and whether she has the political skill to implement them” says Baas.