Federal Minister of Health

Federal Health Minister from 2025

After lengthy coalition negotiations, Cornelia Wanke was appointed as the new Federal Health Minister. The surprise candidate had previously seldom been associated with health policy issues and assumes her office with a comparatively reserved profile in this area. As early as May 26, 2025, Wanke advocated for the nationwide introduction of the family doctor-centered care system as part of the next health reform.

Contrary to earlier speculation, Tino Sorge, who was long considered a favorite for the ministerial post, did not take the office. The previous health policy spokesperson for the CDU was instead appointed as State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health and will bring in his health policy expertise in this position.

Federal Health Ministers from 2006 to Today

Terms of Office, Parties, and Defining Projects

Since 2003, the German Ministry of Health has been under six different ministers, each setting specific accents in health policy. The year 2003 marks the author's entry into the industry for this compendium.

This overview analyzes the mandates of the Federal Health Ministers against the background of party political orientations and the central reform projects of their terms of office.

Ulla Schmidt (SPD)

→ 2005–2009 – Prevention as a National Task

Ulla Schmidt led the ministry since 2001 and decisively shaped the health policy of the Grand Coalition until 2009. Her greatest legacy was the Prevention Act, which was passed in 2005 and for the first time created binding conditions for health prevention 3. Schmidt established prevention as the fourth pillar of the health system, alongside treatment, rehabilitation, and care. With an annual funding of 250 million euros, she laid the foundation for nationwide awareness campaigns and lifestyle interventions 3. Critics, however, accused her of insufficiently implementing the integration of pension and accident insurance.

Philipp Rösler (FDP)

→ 2009–2011 – Liberal Market Orientation

The youngest Health Minister of the Federal Republic (taking office at 36 years old) set a milestone with the Drug Market Reorganization Act (AMNOG) in 2011 4 12. It broke the price monopoly of the pharmaceutical industry through mandatory benefit assessments of new drugs, leading to savings of 1.5 billion euros annually 4. At the same time, Rösler came under pressure due to allegations of lobbying, as he implemented PKV-friendly regulations such as shorter switching periods to private insurance 12. His attempt to cut family doctor contracts failed due to resistance from the medical community.

Daniel Bahr (FDP)

→ 2011–2013 – Reforms in Small Steps

Bahr’s term was marked by the implementation of the AMNOG and the initial steps for the Care Reform. In 2012, he introduced additional benefits for dementia patients, which was criticized as a