The Committee on Health 2 “Patients are at the centre of our health policy. The quality of the care they receive is the yardstick by which the organisation of our health system is judged. We would all like to live a long, healthy life, and we all wish to benefit from medical advances and the oppor­ tunities opened up by the digital revolution. At the same time, ­however, the health system must remain affordable. At the centre of these conflicting interests, the Committee on Health discusses all topics falling within its remit and prepares decisions with the aim of equipping our health system to cope with future challenges.”

Erwin Rüddel, CDU/CSU Chairman of the Committee on Health

3 The German ’s decisions are prepared by its committees, which are estab­ lished at the start of each elec­ toral term. Four of them are stipulated by the Basic Law, the German constitution: the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Defence Committee, the Committee on the Affairs of the European Union and the Petitions Committee. The Budget Committee and the Committee for the Rules of Procedure are also required by law. The spheres of respon­ sibility of the committees essentially reflect the Federal Government’s distribution of ministerial portfolios. This enables Parliament to scruti­ nise the government’s work effectively.

The Bundestag committees The German Bundestag sets political priorities of its own by establishing additional committees for specific sub­ jects, such as sport, cultural affairs or tourism. In addition, special bodies such as parlia­ mentary advisory councils, The committees discuss and committees of inquiry or deliberate on items referred study commissions can also to them by the plenary. They be established. The commit­ also have the right to take up tees are composed of mem­ issues on their own initiative, bers of all the parliamentary allowing them to set priorities groups, reflecting the balance in the parliamentary debate. of these groups in the German When necessary, they draw Bundestag. The distribution on external expertise – usu­ of the chairs and deputy ally by holding public hear­ chairs among the parliamen­ ings. At the end of a commit­ tary groups also reflects their tee’s deliberations, a majority relative strengths in the ple­ of its members adopt a rec­om- nary. In the current electoral mendation for a decision and term, the committees have a report, which serve as the between nine and 49 mem­ basis for the plenary’s deci­ bers. sion.

5 Health is a major policy field which touches on many areas of the economy and society. The health sector accounts for around one tenth of gross national product; one in ten workers are employed in this sector; and around 90 per cent of the German population is insured under the statutory health insurance scheme. The range of economic and social interests with which health policy has to deal is corres- pondingly diverse. Patients want to receive high-quality medical care, health profes­ sionals want to receive an appropriate income, and insured people want the con­ tributions they pay to remain within reasonable limits. Health policy needs to strike a balance between these ­different concerns. Its aim is to guarantee high-quality medical care while limiting the cost of health services. As a result, there is a constant need for political action and regulation.

The Committee on Health In recent decades, the Com­ mittee on Health has dealt with at least one major health reform in almost every elec­ toral term. The core issues dealt with by the Committee are the financing of the statu­ tory health insurance system, medical and dental care, and long-term care. However, health policy also covers the health professions, genetic diagnosis, the prevention of addiction and disease, and The Committee also holds ethical issues – in relation public hearings, particularly to organ transplants, for exam­ in the context of its delibera­ ple. The 41 members of the tions on legislation. It invites Committee, chaired by Erwin experts and representatives Rüddel, therefore have a of associations to participate heavy workload. Their con­ in specialist discussions. sideration of the large number The participants are selected of bills and motions requires a by the parliamentary groups wealth of detailed knowledge. in line with their relative To ensure they can take strengths in the plenary. This informed decisions, the Com­ is to ensure that the majorities mittee members draw on a in Parliament are reflected at range of information sources. public hearings. The time They regularly request brief­ available for questions is allo­ ings from the Ministry of cated to the individual parlia­ Health and other federal mentary groups in accordance ­ministries, or invite experts with the same principle. The from academia or the health length of a hearing depends sector for discussions in order on the complexity of the bill to obtain a full and independ­ or motion under discussion. ent picture of the subject Sometimes an hour and a half under discussion. is sufficient; on occasion,

14 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ CDU/CSU 9 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ SPD 5 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ AfD 5 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ FDP 4 ■ ■ ■ ■ Party 4 ■ ■ ■ ■ Alliance 90/The Greens

Number of members: 41 Chairman: Erwin Rüddel, CDU/CSU Deputy Chairman: , The Left Party

7 however, discussions can span several days. The num­ ber of experts invited also var­ ies. Given the large number of stakeholders – including patients, doctors, carers, hos­ pitals and health-insurance funds – the hearings held by the Committee on Health often have a large number of participants. For example, 66 experts were invited to a hearing on the Care Sector Health’s role as a key element Occupations Reform Act in in sustainable development the last electoral term. is becoming increasingly The information obtained by important. The effects of the Committee members at infectious diseases, such as public hearings, together with Ebola or tuberculosis, and of the written statements sub­ antibiotic resistance extend mitted by experts, is fed into far beyond national borders. the Committee’s deliberations, Migration flows are giving which sometimes extend over rise to new health-related many weeks. The conclusion challenges. To take account of the Committee’s delibera­ of this development and facili- tions on a bill or motion takes tate cross-cutting cooperation the form of a recommendation and dialogue between the par­ for a decision to the plenary liamentary bodies dealing and a report on the course of with these issues, a Subcom­ the Committee’s deliberations. mittee on Global Health On this basis, the plenary attached to the Committee on then takes a majority decision Health has been set up in this on the item in question. electoral term.

3 ■ ■ ■ CDU/CSU 2 ■ ■ SPD 1 ■ AfD 1 ■ FDP 1 ■ The Left Party 1 ■ Alliance 90/The Greens

Number of members of the Subcommittee on Global Health: 9 Chairwoman: , SPD Deputy Chairman: Professor , FDP

8 Long-term care, hospital financing, out-patient ­palliative care – the Commit- tee’s work in practice

In addition to bills and motions relating specifically to health policy, for which the Committee on Health is the lead committee, it is also con­ sulted on items of business for which other committees Minister of Health to its meet­ are responsible, if they touch ings to explain his health-​ on aspects of health policy. ­policy plans or his Ministry’s The Committee on Health budget. When information is ­submits its opinion on these needed about cross-cutting items as well. Its right to take issues such as corruption in up issues on its own initiative the health system, the con­ allows the Committee to place cerns of people with disabili­ other relevant subjects on the ties, or medical research, min­ agenda. For example, it can isters from other departments call on the Federal Govern­ are also asked to brief the ment to provide briefings on Committee. Another impor­ its health-policy initiatives, tant aspect of the Committee’s within the framework of par­ work is international dialogue. liamentary scrutiny of the Talks with politicians from government’s work. The brief­ other countries who special­ ings might focus on the state ise in health policy provide of play of plans to reform ideas for reform projects in ­hospital financing, palliative . In addition, groups care, or the implementation of parliamentarians from of the new concept of “need around the world consult for long-term care”. Several the Committee on Health to times a year, the Committee learn about the German health also welcomes the Federal ­system.

9 action to obviate sources of danger to human health, the fight against widespread European dimensions health scourges such as HIV/ of health policy Aids, malaria or tuberculosis, and complementary action Under Article 168 of the to reduce drugs-related health Treaty on the Functioning of damage. In addition, the Euro­ the European Union (TFEU), pean Union is responsible responsibility for the organi­ for measures to establish high sation of health services rests standards of quality and with the Member States of safety for organs, substances the European Union. In fact, of human origin, blood and the EU is expressly prohib­ blood derivatives. It also pro­ ited from taking steps to har­ motes cooperation between monise the relevant laws the Member States. Secondly, of the Member States. This provisions relating to the EU’s means that the Member States single market, and especially have sole responsibility for the four fundamental free­ their national health policies, doms – the free movement of organisation of the health sys­ goods, persons, services and tem, and medical care, includ­ capital – are having a growing ing the financing of services impact on national health sys­ and the scope of services cov­ tems. For example, the Euro­ ered by health insurance. pean Court of Justice (ECJ) Nonetheless, the EU does has made it clear in several have scope to take action in rulings that these fundamen­ the sphere of public health. tal freedoms also apply, in This scope derives, firstly, principle, in the sphere of from the competences set out public health. The Court has in the TFEU and relates pri­ ruled that medical products marily to the improvement and services, as well as hos­ of public health and preven­ pital treatment abroad, are tion of illness and diseases. subject to the free movement It includes, in particular, of goods and services.

10 When considering EU items The German legislature drew of business, the Committee the appropriate conclusions on Health has the task of from the ECJ rulings and ensuring that the principles applied this interpretation of of subsidiarity and propor­ the law to the German health tionality are upheld in EU system with the Statutory directives and regulations Health Insurance Modernisa­ affecting the health sector. If it tion Act, which entered into takes the view that these prin­ force in 2003. One topical ciples are being infringed, example is the Court’s ruling the Committee can recom­ on the fixed-price system mend that the plenary of the for prescription-only medici­ German Bundestag should nal products in Germany. It deliver an opinion to this remains to be seen how Ger­ effect (a “subsidiarity objec­ man lawmakers will respond tion”). It is thus essential for to this decision. However, the Committee on Health to they are free to choose learn about planned EU pro­ whether to adhere closely jects well in advance. For this to European provisions and reason, the Committee mem­ recommendations when bers request regular briefings implementing EU law, or from the Federal Government whether to require a higher about the latest developments level of protection. at European level.

11 Harald Weinberg, The Left Party Deputy Chairman, Erwin Rüddel, The Left Party CDU/CSU spokesman on health Chairman policy Business administrator, Educational adviser, b. 21 Dec. 1955 b. 13 Feb. 1957 in Bonn; in Bonn, married; Bad-Godesberg; two children. two children. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2009 since 2009

Committee members The 41 members of the Committee on Health

12 , , CDU/CSU CDU/CSU CDU/CSU spokesman , Doctor, on the Committee CDU/CSU b. 5 June 1954 Lawyer, Commercial employee, in Birkesdorf b. 14 Jan. 1965 b. 27 May 1970 (now Düren); in Balingen; in Freising; married; married; married; four children. two children. two children. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2009 since 2002 since 2013

Dr Roy Kühne, Alexander Krauß, CDU/CSU Dr , CDU/CSU Sports therapist, CDU/CSU Political scientist, physiotherapist, Lawyer, b. 8 Dec. 1975 b. 27 Sep. 1967 b. 21 Sep. 1959 in Erlabrunn; in Magdeburg; in Bedburg; married; married; married. three children. two children. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2013 since 2017 since 2013

13 , CDU/CSU CDU/CSU spokes­ woman on health policy , , Lawyer, former senior CDU/CSU CDU/CSU civil servant, Lawyer, Doctor, b. 13 June 1962 b. 15 Sep. 1957 b. 17 Feb. 1987 in ; in ; in ; married. four children. unmarried. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2009 since 2009 since 2017

Professor , , CDU/CSU CDU/CSU , Former mayor, Cardiac surgeon, CDU/CSU b. 24 Sep. 1957 MBA in Healthcare Lawyer, in Pfullendorf; Management, b. 4 Mar. 1975 married; b. 29 Mar. 1966 in ; two children. in Neumünster. married. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2009 since 2017 since 2013

14 Heike Baehrens, SPD Bärbel Bas, , Bank clerk, specialist SPD CDU/CSU in religious education, Personnel management Registered nurse, b. 21 Sep. 1955 specialist, b. 27 Mar. 1987 in Bevern; b. 3 May 1968 in Lichtenfels; married; in Walsum, Duisburg; one child. two children. married. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2013 since 2013 since 2009

Sabine Dittmar, SPD SPD spokeswoman , on the Committee, Dr , SPD SPD spokeswoman SPD Executive at the on health policy Lawyer, Workers’ Samaritan Doctor, b. 21 Jan. 1960 Federation, b. 15 Sep. 1964 in ; b. 21 Apr. 1961 in Schweinfurt; widowed; in ; married. two children. married. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2013 since 2009 since 2013

15 , , SPD SPD Caregiver Bettina Müller, Teacher, for the elderly, SPD b. 6 Oct. 1954 b. 15 Dec. 1968 Nurse, lawyer, in Finnentrop; in Eschweiler; b. 7 June 1959 married; married; in Alzenau-Wasserlos; two children. two children. married; two children. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2002 since 2017 since 2013

Professor , AfD AfD spokesman on the Committee, AfD spokesman Martina Stamm-Fibich, on health policy SPD Internal specialist, Marketing and cardiologist, specialist communications in physical medicine Paul Viktor Podolay, manager, and rehabilitation, AfD works council member, university professor, Medical technician, b. 23 Apr. 1965 b. 12 Jan. 1942 b. 30 May 1946 in Erlangen; in Arnswalde; in Preßburg; two children. three children. married; two children. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2013 since 2017 since 2017

16 Dr , , AfD AfD Doctor, Jörg Schneider, Business administrator, b. 19 Feb. 1967 AfD b. 10 Apr. 1944 in ; Mechanical engineer, in ; married; b. 14 May 1964 married; three children. in Solingen. one child. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2017 since 2017 since 2017

Christine Aschenberg-Dugnus, FDP FDP spokeswoman Dr Wieland on the Committee Katrin Helling-Plahr, Schinnenburg, Lawyer, FDP FDP b. 22 Sep. 1959 Lawyer, Dentist, lawyer, in Eppstein, Taunus; b. 2 Apr. 1986 b. 12 Nov. 1958 married; in Hagen; in Norden; one child. married; married; Bundestag Member one child. three children. from 2009 to 2013 Bundestag Member Bundestag Member and since 2017 since 2017 since 2017

17 Professor Andrew Ullmann, FDP FDP spokesman on the Committee Internal specialist, , university professor, FDP , b. 2 Jan. 1963 Fundraiser, The Left Party in Los Angeles, USA; b. 13 Nov. 1967 in Pharmacist, married; Menden, Sauerland; b. 7 Sep. 1958 two children. two children. in Bad Homburg. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2017 since 2017 since 2017

Dr , The Left Party The Left Party Dr Bettina Hoffmann, spokesman on the , Alliance 90/The Greens Committee The Left Party Biologist, Employee, Media designer, b. 18 Jan. 1960 b. 2 Aug. 1964 b. 17 Sep. 1956 in Heimboldshausen; in St. Georgen in ; married; im Schwarzwald. three children. two children. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2017 since 2013 since 2017

18 Dr Kirsten Kappert-Gonther, Maria Klein-Schmeink, Alliance 90/The Greens Alliance 90/The Greens Alliance 90/The Greens Alliance 90/The Greens Kordula Schulz-Asche, spokeswoman spokeswoman on Alliance 90/The Greens on the Committee health policy Communications Doctor, Sociologist, ­specialist, nurse, b. 3 Nov. 1966 b. 6 Jan. 1958 b. 31 Dec. 1956 in Marburg; in Dingden; in Berlin; married; unmarried; married; two children. one child. one child. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2017 since 2009 since 2013

19 Information online

The Committee on Health www.bundestag.de/en/committees/a14

20 Contact details for the Committee Secretariat

Deutscher Bundestag Ausschuss für Gesundheit Platz der Republik 1 11011 Berlin Tel.: +49 30 227-32407 Fax: +49 30 227-36724 Email: [email protected]

21 Published by: German Bundestag, Public Relations Division Coordination: Robert Schönbrodt Texts: Georgia Rauer; revised by: Committees Directorate (p. 4 – 5), Secretariat of the Committee on Health (p. 6 – 21) Edited by: Marianne Wollenweber Translated by: Language Service of the German Bundestag, in cooperation with Emma Hardie Design: Marc Mendelson Bundestag eagle: Created by Professor Ludwig Gies, revised in 2008 by büro uebele Photos: p. 2 Deutscher Bundestag (DBT) / ​Linus Lintner Fotografie; p. 9, 10, 11 DBT / ​Simone M. Neumann; p. 23 DBT / ​studio kohlmeier Portrait photos: p. 3, 12 Dieter Klaas / ​PHOTODESIGNKLAAS (Erwin Rüd­ del); p. 12 DBT / ​Stella von Saldern (Harald Weinberg); p. 13 DBT / ​Thomas Trutschel / ​photothek (Rudolf Henke); Michael Hennrich (Michael Hennrich); Johannes Sieber (Erich Irlstorfer); Reinhold Deutzmann (Georg Kippels); DBT / ​Julia Nowak (Alexander Krauß); DBT / ​Thomas Trutschel / ​photothek (Roy Kühne); p. 14 Karin Maag (Karin Maag); Dietrich Monstadt / ​Heike Homs (Dietrich Monstadt); Timo Hänseler (Stephan Pilsinger); Jan Kopetzky (Lothar Riebsamen); Claudia Schmidtke / ​Jan Kopetzky (Claudia Schmidtke); Tino Sorge / ​Jan Kopetzky (Tino Sorge); p. 15 Emmi Zeulner / ​Wolf Heider- Sawall (Emmi Zeulner); SPD party executive / ​Susie Knoll (Heike Baehrens); SPD party executive / ​Benno Kraehahn (Bärbel Bas); Die Hoffotografen GmbH Berlin (); SPD party executive / ​Benno Kraehahn (Edgar Franke); DBT / ​Thomas Trutschel / ​photothek (Dirk Heidenblut); p. 16 SPD party executive / ​Susie Knoll (Hilde Mattheis); SPD party executive / ​Susie Knoll (Claudia Moll); DBT / ​Thomas Trutschel / ​photothek (Bettina Müller); Marco Leibetseder (Martina Stamm-Fibich); DBT / ​Stella von Saldern (Axel Gehrke); DBT / ​Julia Nowak (Paul Viktor Podolay); p. 17 DBT / ​Achim Melde (Robby Schlund); DBT / ​Achim Melde (Jörg Schneider); Marco Klinger (Detlev Spangenberg); Josefus Szellas (Christine Aschenberg-​­Dugnus); Katrin Helling-Plahr / ​Viktor Dücker (Katrin Helling-Plahr); Burgis Wehry (); p. 18 DBT / ​Thomas Köhler / ​photothek (Andrew Ullmann); Laurence Chaperon (Nicole Westig); DBT / ​Stella von Saldern (Sylvia Gabel­ mann); DBT / ​Julia Nowak (Achim Kessler); The Left Party in the Bundestag (Pia Zimmermann); DBT / ​Thomas Köhler / ​photothek (Bettina Hoffmann); p. 19 DBT / ​Thomas Trutschel / ​photothek (Kirsten Kappert-Gonther); Joachim Pantel (Maria Klein-Schmeink); Stefan Kaminski (Kordula Schulz-Asche) Graphics: p. 7, 8 Marc Mendelson Printed by: Druckhaus Waiblingen Remstal-Bote GmbH As at: July 2018 © Deutscher Bundestag, Berlin All rights reserved. This publication has been produced as part of the German Bundestag’s ­public relations activities. It is provided free of charge and is not intended for sale. It may not be used for election campaign purposes or utilised by parties or parliamentary groups in their own public relations activities. 23 The German Bundestag takes decisions on what are at times highly complex and controversial bills and parliamentary initiatives relating to the entire spectrum of policy fields. The committees play a central role in parliamentary deliberations. They are the forum where the Members thrash out compromises and draw on expert advice before submitting their reports and recommen­dations for decisions to be voted on by the Bundestag as a whole. www.bundestag.de/en/committees