Berlin. Former Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has warned against the austerity package proposed by his successor, Nina Warken (CDU), fearing it could worsen conditions for low-income patients in the statutory health insurance system, he told Der Spiegel.

Germany's €20B healthcare cuts spark fears of unequal patient access

Warken's draft legislation aims to cut nearly €20 billion from the healthcare system. The savings package is intended to prevent further increases in contribution rates and is set to be approved by the cabinet at the end of April.

Lauterbach criticized potential cuts to preventive care services and cautioned that some patients might forgo necessary treatments if co-payments rise. "But what's even more serious," he said, "is that if doctors' budgets are capped, there's a real risk they will reduce appointments for statutory health patients and focus even more on privately insured individuals. I see a danger of deepening the divide in our two-tier healthcare system."

While Lauterbach acknowledged that cost controls were necessary, the Social Democrat argued they "must be paired with guaranteed appointment slots for specialists to ensure statutory patients aren't left at a disadvantage."