German Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) said the country is not yet ready for war‑time health emergencies. She told the weekly ”Welt am Sonntag” that the priority is to secure medical care for the public while also treating injured soldiers and NATO partners. To that end, she stresses the need for clear responsibilities, functional communication channels, sufficient treatment capacity, and, if necessary, pre‑stocking of medicines and medical supplies. In the summer, she will propose a draft Health Security Act that she says will “close this gap”.
The minister is still determining which ministry will ultimately carry out this role. Warken said that the Defence and Interior ministries will work together to decide, adding that the law will make the government responsible for health security and that the Bundeswehr will be closely involved. “We must not create duplicate structures” she warned, noting that the new joint task is a major challenge that will require people and money.
Warken singled out three main weaknesses: the overall situation picture, the data available, and the qualifications of the workforce. She said training must be more crisis‑oriented and asked questions that still lack answers, such as how many health‑care staff possess the knowledge needed in a war scenario. Until now, no central registry exists, and she called for a specific collection of that data.
Hospitals play a key role in a defence situation. When asked about plans to close many small rural clinics as part of the hospital reform, Warken said that structures cannot remain open just because a defence scenario might arise. Instead, the reform must take into account the capacities needed on the ground in an emergency.