According to Deputy Government Spokesman Steffen Meyer, the cabinet’s decision on the health care reform passed unanimously. Meyer told the dpa newsagency on Wednesday, stating that no minutes of explanation were required, although several ministers were reportedly absent. While the spokesman declined to share details about the discussions that took place, he confirmed that there was a “great consensus” among the ministers regarding this agenda item.
The reform package aims to limit increases in public spending to match real revenue developments. Furthermore, it proposes that only medical services with demonstrable health benefits will be covered by insurance moving forward.
The reforms are expected to face considerable scrutiny during the subsequent parliamentary process. The financial necessity for the changes is clear: without this reform, Germany’s statutory health insurance funds face a deficit of 15 billion euros in the coming year, potentially reaching up to 40 billion euros by 2030. The government plans to have the reform package approved by the Bundestag before the summer recess.
Criticism of the package has been intense in recent weeks, coming from nearly every sector, particularly from social associations, hospitals, and doctors. However, according to many commentators, the pharmaceutical industry seems to have escaped the harsh criticism so far.
