Bundesgesundheitsministerin Nina Warken (CDU) highlighted that a higher tobacco tax would help curb smoking. She told the outlets of the Funke Media Group on Saturday that higher excise duties clearly influence consumption levels. But she stressed that the primary goal is to raise the public’s health literacy; “for that we need comprehensive strategies” she added. To this end, Warken plans to launch a collaborative process with all stakeholders this year. She also warned that Germany performs poorly in disease prevention and that the issue goes far beyond tobacco use.
Amid the debate, the Spitzenverband der Gesetzlichen Krankenkassen (GKV) calls for the future revenue to be earmarked for health care. Oliver Blatt, CEO of the GKV association, told the Funke outlets that smoking not only harms individuals but also imposes enormous additional costs on the health system. “It would be right and appropriate to channel a substantial portion of tobacco‑tax proceeds into financially strengthening our health care system” Blatt said. He noted that the funding could be effectively used for medical services and targeted anti‑smoking prevention, ultimately reducing lung‑cancer cases.
Several coalition politicians from both the Union and the SPD have broached the idea of raising the tobacco tax, among them federal drug commissioner Hendrik Streeck (CDU) and former health minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD).
