Federal Ministry of Health (Germany)

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Federal Ministry of Health
Bundesministerium für Gesundheit
Agency overview
Formed 1961
Jurisdiction Government of Germany
Headquarters Bonn
Minister Responsible Ulla Schmidt, Federal Minister of Health
Website
http://www.bmg.bund.de

The Federal Ministry of Health, (in German, Bundesministerium für Gesundheit ) is a ministry of the German federal government (see also Bundesregierung). It is the highest German federal government department responsible for health.

The ministry has its headquarters in Bonn and a second official location in Berlin.


Contents

[edit] History

The Federal Ministry of Health was founded in 1961; in 1969 it was merged with the Federal Ministry for Family and Youth to create the new Federal Ministry for Youth, Family and Health.

In 1991, the Federal Ministry of Health was restored. In 2002, it was expanded to include social affairs and renamed "Federal Ministry of Health and Social Security" (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit und Soziale Sicherung). In 2005 it was again reduced to health, and responsibility for social affairs was moved to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social affairs (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales).

[edit] Ministers

1961-1969: Federal Ministry for Health Matters (Bundesministerium für Gesundheitswesen):

  1. Elisabeth Schwarzhaupt (CDU) (1961-1966)
  2. Käte Strobel (SPD) (1966-1969)

1969-1991: Federal Ministry for Youth, Family and Health:

  1. Käte Strobel (SPD) (1969-1972)
  2. Dr. Katharina Focke (SPD) (1972-1976)
  3. Antje Huber (SPD) (1976-1982)
  4. Anke Fuchs (SPD) (1982-1982; for about 6 months)
  5. Dr. Heiner Geißler (CDU) (1982-1985)
  6. Prof. Rita Süssmuth (CDU) (1985-1988)
  7. Prof. Ursula Lehr (CDU) (1988-1991)

1991-2002: Federal Ministry of Health:

  1. Gerda Hasselfeldt (CDU) (1991-1992)
  2. Horst Seehofer (CSU) (1992-1998)
  3. Andrea Fischer (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) (1998-2001)
  4. Ursula „Ulla“ Schmidt (SPD) (2001-2002)

2002-2005: Federal Ministry of Health and Social Security:

  1. Ursula ("Ulla") Schmidt (SPD) (2002-2005)

2005-present: Federal Ministry of Health:

  1. Ursula ("Ulla") Schmidt (SPD) (2005-...)

[edit] Responsibilities of the Federal Ministry of Health

The Federal Ministry of Health is responsible for:

  • maintaining the effectiveness and efficiency of the statutory health insurance and long-term care insurance systems
  • maintaining and enhancing the quality of the health care system
  • strengthening the interests of patients
  • maintaining economic viability and stabilization of contribution levels
  • preventive and prophylactic healthcare
  • the Protection against Infection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz, or IfSG)
  • establishing guidelines for the manufacture, clinical trial, approval, distribution channels and monitoring of medicines and medical devices. The objectives are:
    • quality, medical efficacy and safety
    • safety of biological medical products such as blood products
  • narcotics and addiction risk prevention
  • prevention, rehabilitation and disability policy
    • medical and occupational rehabilitation
    • disability law
    • providing assistance to the disabled and promoting their interests
  • European and international health policy, including the work of the Federal Government Narcotics Officer and the patients' ombudsman.

[edit] Supervisory role

The Federal Ministry of Health is responsible for the comprehensive[1] (disciplinary) supervision of the following governmental institutions:

The Federal Ministry of Health is also responsible for the non-disciplinary supervision[2] of

  • the German Federal (Social) Insurance Authority (Bundesversicherungsamt).

and the legal supervision[3] of the umbrella organizations of the statutory health insurance schemes.

[edit] See also

  • In Europe - European Commission - Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection (SANCO)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Fach- und Dienstaufsicht, includes review of decisions and behaviour of staff of those institutions
  2. ^ Fachaufsicht, includes review of decisions of staff of those institutions (not merely their legality)
  3. ^ Rechtsaufsicht, includes review of legality of actions of those institutions

This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding German Wikipedia article as of 2007-02-01.

[edit] External links

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Federal Ministries of Germany
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