Germany’s Minister of Health, Nina Warken of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), issued a rare Saturday evening statement forcefully countering accusations made by her U.S. counterpart, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., regarding alleged politically motivated legal proceedings against doctors and patients within the German healthcare system. Warken’s direct rebuttal, an unusual move for a government minister, signals growing concern over the dissemination of misinformation and the potential impact on transatlantic relations.
Kennedy’s claims, which remain unspecified in detail, suggested that Germany was engaging in politically driven actions against medical professionals and individuals seeking treatment. Warken unequivocally dismissed these allegations as “completely unfounded” and “factually incorrect” offering to personally clarify the German system to Kennedy.
The Minister stressed the fundamental importance of “medical treatment autonomy” enshrined in German constitutional law. She emphasized that physicians independently and responsibly determine patient care, moving away from any notion of political interference. Warken further clarified that the scope of services covered by Germany’s statutory health insurance is based on “demonstrated scientific evidence” not dictated by political influence. Patients, she affirmed, retain freedom of choice regarding their therapeutic options.
The timing of Kennedy’s remarks is particularly sensitive, occurring amidst lingering debate surrounding the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Warken explicitly refuted the assertion that doctors faced coercion to administer COVID-19 vaccines, stating that no sanctions were imposed on those who declined to offer vaccinations based on medical, ethical, or personal grounds. She underscored that no professional bans or fines were enacted for non-participation in vaccination programs.
While acknowledging that criminal prosecution did occur, it was limited to instances of fraud and forgery-specifically, the creation of false vaccination passports and mask exemption certificates. Warken’s statement represents a deliberate effort to combat what she frames as a distortion of the German healthcare system, potentially aimed at undermining public trust and fueling anti-establishment narratives. The incident also poses a diplomatic challenge, requiring careful navigation to avoid exacerbating existing tensions surrounding vaccine hesitancy and public health policy across the Atlantic.
