A new state agency for health and occupational safety is set to be established in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, following the adoption of a new law by the state parliament. The law merges the State Center for Health North Rhine-Westphalia and the State Institute for Occupational Safety and Work Design into a new state authority, which is expected to take over all tasks and personnel of the two previous institutions from July 1, 2025.
Simone Gurlit, a seasoned administrator with a background in science, medicine and public administration, has been appointed as the new agency’s president. Gurlit has previously led the State Center for Health and has held a temporary leadership position at the State Institute for Occupational Safety.
According to Health and Labor Minister Karl-Josef Laumann, Gurlit’s broad expertise in administration, science and medical practice makes her an ideal candidate to establish the new agency successfully. The new agency is designed to streamline public administration in the fields of health and occupational safety and will be responsible for overseeing the lower health authorities, which are currently under the jurisdiction of the regional authorities.
This change is expected to enable a faster and more coordinated response to regional challenges, such as pandemics. The agency will also serve as a central point of contact for local authorities and drive the digitalization of occupational safety administration.