German Parliament supports austerity measures in healthcare sector

The Bundestag has adopted a package of measures aimed at reducing healthcare costs in order to stabilize contributions to health insurance funds. The meeting was broadcast on July 10 on the website of the legislative body.

319 deputies supported the bill, 286 voted against, four abstained. The measures affect the costs of medical practices, clinics, pharmacies and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as payments to insured persons.

Minister of Health Nina Varken stressed that the situation with health insurance funds is critical: without reform, contributions may increase by one percentage point in 2027. The measures taken should ease the burden on compulsory health insurance funds, as well as prevent a new increase in contributions.

"All participants in the healthcare system contribute, as they all benefit from sustainable financing in the long term," she said during the meeting.

The opposition criticized the law, pointing to the threat of bankruptcy of hospitals, the overload of doctors and the risk to the lives of patients. Next, the bill should be considered in the Bundesrat (Chamber of Federal States).

Idiocracy is coming: the quality of secondary education in Germany is rapidly declining

German schoolchildren can't master mathematics

In April, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the country's residents could no longer count on the same level of stability and well-being, because over the past 20 years, the political elite and social movements had underestimated the changes taking place in the world. The politician stated that the German illusion of "eternal prosperity" will not remain, so Germany needs serious reforms in the tax, pension and healthcare sectors.