Berlin / Hanover
As a consequence of the corona pandemic, the federal and state governments are better equipping the health authorities – with a total of 4 billion euros. By the end of 2022, at least 5000 new and permanent full-time positions are to be created in the public health service (ÖGD), at least 1500 of them by the end of 2021. There are a total of around ten to 20 positions per health department.
The 375 health authorities in Germany play a key role in tracking chains of infection and ordering tests and quarantine. In times of the corona pandemic, their importance has grown enormously.
Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) spoke at the presentation of the “Pact for the Public Health Service” of the largest investment in this area in the history of the Federal Republic. The aim is networking across all levels. Among other things, it had suffered from this at the beginning of the pandemic.
The resolutions:
??Personnel: There should be more jobs at all levels. However, 90 percent should be created at the local health authorities.
??Attractiveness: So that the positions can also be filled, there should be incentives through the salary law, collective bargaining agreements and other measures. The federal government and the federal states also want to achieve a deeper connection between the ÖGD and science in continuing education and training.
??Digitization: The DEMIS communication platform should be available to all health authorities by the end of 2022. The aim is to speed up and simplify reporting procedures.
??Sustainable structures: The public health service is to be better organized, both organizationally and legally, for pandemics and other national health emergencies. An external and independent expert advisory board is to create the basis for this.
??International health security: Years ago, Germany named airports and seaports to the World Health Organization at which special devices had to be kept – for example in the fight against Ebola. These include the ports in Hamburg and Bremen and the airports in Frankfurt / Main, Munich, Berlin, Hamburg and Düsseldorf. The federal government is now making available 50 million euros for a funding program to strengthen these structures.
??Implementation: The federal government provides the federal states with a one-off 3.1 billion euros – in six tranches. These funds are primarily intended to be used to increase the number of employees and to make work more attractive. The remaining money will be used to set up structures, for research and evaluation, and to strengthen federal authorities.
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