Against the backdrop of the recently presented proposals to reform the health system, Greens politician Ricarda Lang and Left politician Gregor Gysi called for greater social justice and stronger prevention in healthcare.
On Monday on the TV channel ntv, Lang said she is fundamentally ready to support the chancellor’s reforms, “if they are the right ones – the ones that are also fair”. She warned that current proposals are aimed at people with “normal incomes” and could ultimately leave those with even less income worse off. “I am not willing to accept reforms that, in my view, go in the wrong direction. For example, if the contribution‑free co‑insurance – which is slated for abolition – remains, it will effectively become a total burden for families with modest incomes”.
Gysi urged that families be relieved and prevention strengthened. “If the insurers pay for preventative checks – such as early cancer screening – treatment would be much cheaper. We need to rethink our approach”. He called for a comprehensive reform commission that would take into account the interconnections between health, labour and family policy. He also criticized Merz, saying he “always looks downward, never upward” and noted that wealthy families should pay less tax, much like in Switzerland.