The parliamentary group leader, Jens Spahn, has reaffirmed his personal involvement in the procurement of coronavirus protective masks during his tenure as Federal Minister of Health.
Speaking to RTL and ntv, Spahn stated, “I’m reading the accusation today: He personally intervened in the process. Yes, of course”. He referenced a book he authored detailing his direct engagement in securing vaccines, ventilators and, initially, protective masks. He explained that he proactively used his contacts to gain information, though subsequent negotiations were handled by specialists within the ministry, with all processes being transparent.
Spahn highlighted that the German government disbursed approximately €440 billion over three years of the pandemic, allocated to various measures including financial assistance, short-time work benefits and support for care facilities and hospitals. He estimated that roughly one percent of this expenditure was dedicated to protective masks. While acknowledging the significant sum, he emphasized the context of the period.
“Was it a lot of money? Yes. Could it have been done more cost-effectively with the knowledge we have today? Yes. But we have to remember what it was like” he stated, referring to the global scramble for masks. “We saw prices of €20, €30, sometimes for masks, even for textile masks, at that time. And in that emergency, we wanted to ensure precautions for everything that might come. It’s better to have and not need, than to need and not have.
Spahn drew a parallel to the actions of former Minister for Economic Affairs, Robert Habeck, during the energy crisis, who prioritized securing gas supplies regardless of cost to avoid shortages. He argued that a similar logic applied to mask procurement, suggesting that the potential damage from a lack of masks – potentially extending lockdowns and increasing harm – would have been greater than the financial cost.