The Federal Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (BPI) has sharply criticized the planned Statutory Health Insurance Contribution Rate Stabilization Act. BPI Chairman Oliver Kirst described the reform as a missed opportunity to create more justice and to send a positive signal for a real structural reform of the health care system.

Kirst called for non-insurance benefits – in particular the financing of health insurance contributions for recipients of citizen’s allowance amounting to around twelve billion euros – to be taken over from the federal budget in the future. Instead, the legally insured and their employers would be burdened one-sidedly. Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil is blocking this solution, although he has repeatedly advocated the hard-working center.

BPI Managing Director Dr. Kai Joachimsen explained that the austerity law proceeds with a shotgun and affects all parties involved – except the federal government. The planned measures would further exacerbate the supply problems. For the pharmaceutical industry, the expansion and dynamization of the compulsory discount means the end of any planning security. Companies can no longer calculate how high the levy will be in the end, which endangers investments in research, development and jobs.

Joachimsen warned that great damage was being done to Germany as a business location. Contrary to the coalition agreement, the industry will not be strengthened as a leading industry, but will continue to be burdened. The planned savings would affect everyone – except the federal government.

The BPI appealed to politicians to make the right decisions and to ensure sustainable financing of the health system instead of saving in the short term. Only in this way can the system perform better and tackle the necessary structural reform.

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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