Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) is aiming to shift the focus of the national healthcare system toward prevention. In a push for this change, she launched a significant offensive in collaboration with the Federal Medical Association and the leading association for statutory health insurance (GKV), according to the “Tagesspiegel.”
A preliminary concept paper from the Health Ministry outlines several potential measures. These plans include ensuring that all primary school students and teenagers receive digital invitations for health checks. Additionally, efforts will be made to support small and medium-sized enterprises, given that over half of the workforce is employed in this sector, by facilitating occupational health promotion programs. Furthermore, the federal, state, and local governments are expected to coordinate more closely on health promotion initiatives.
Concurrently, in connection with the upcoming care reform, Warken intends to establish a form of “care guidance.” This guidance aims to assist affected individuals in accessing preventive and rehabilitation measures. The general health check-up offerings for citizens over the age of 60 are also slated for expansion.
“Our healthcare system provides high-quality and comprehensive care when illness occurs,” the CDU politician told the “Tagesspiegel” following the kickoff event. “However, we must become much better at preventing diseases from happening in the first place.”
Warken stated that this preventative offensive sends a clear message: prevention is not a secondary issue, but a central task for the future. To achieve this, she advocates for a broad approach that involves various societal groups and political domains. While the healthcare system can improve, the Minister acknowledges that it cannot solve every problem.
This prevention offensive serves to further develop the Prevention Act, which came into effect in 2015. The goals are wide-ranging: promoting healthy upbringing and successful work, while also delaying or preventing the onset of chronic illness and the need for elderly care. Ultimately, the Federal Ministry of Health seeks to strengthen citizens’ health competence and ensure that as few people as possible are affected by common chronic diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, psychological disorders, or obesity.
