Dirk Wiese, the first Parliamentary Secretary of the SPD group in the Bundestag, criticized the reform proposals for the statutory health insurance system put forward by Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken, demanding further improvements. Wiese told the news portal Politico that the current proposals show a ‘bias against the insured.’ The SPD aims to present a “fair reform of the statutory health insurance finances” before the summer recess. While acknowledging that savings are necessary, Wiese stressed that these cuts should not exclusively burden the contributors. He suggested alternative methods for creating savings, pointing to potential reductions in the pharmaceutical sector, such as revising the manufacturer’s rebate, which he noted has not yet been considered. At the same time, Wiese confirmed that achieving savings is unavoidable, stating that the ‘gap in the statutory health insurance finances…. can only be closed with savings.’ The goal remains a “socially equitable and balanced reform”.
Politics
