Kassenärzte Push for Comprehensive Prevention Strategy from Linnemann
Kassenärzte chief Andreas Gassen calls for a new prevention strategy from Health Minister Carsten Linnemann, criticizing previous government efforts and emphasizing the need for higher taxes on tobacco and alcohol to combat health issues.
On August 6, 2026, Osnabrück's Kassenärzte chief, Andreas Gassen, urged the new Federal Minister of Health, Carsten Linnemann, to initiate a robust prevention strategy. According to Gassen, Germany's performance in disease prevention is lacking, with citizens often being heavier, smoking more, and exercising less compared to international standards. He emphasized the need for Linnemann to address these issues head-on.
Gassen advocated for increased focus on early education in kindergartens and schools, where children can learn about healthy eating and the importance of physical activity. "We need to steer them away from self-destructive consumption patterns," he stated in an interview with the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung". He also called for a strengthening of public health services, noting that promises made during the COVID-19 pandemic have not been fulfilled.
During the tenure of Linnemann's predecessor, Nina Warken, the government had decided to raise taxes on tobacco and high-alcohol beverages by 20 percentage points. However, Gassen criticized this approach, suggesting it was more about boosting state revenues than genuinely deterring unhealthy habits. "To truly discourage smoking and excessive drinking, significantly higher prices are necessary. A bottle of vodka should have seen an increase of five to ten euros," he remarked.
Gassen further argued that a mere two-euro increase for a pack of cigarettes is insufficient. He suggested that if the state were to impose higher taxes, it might encourage young people to avoid tobacco altogether. "If the state collects less in taxes as a result, that’s even better; healthcare costs will drop significantly," he added.
Reflecting on Warken's recent proposals for health prevention, Gassen expressed disappointment, stating that introducing a prevention initiative just a week after the government passed a budget that would reduce preventive examinations felt almost cynical. He noted a lack of concrete plans in Warken's strategy to genuinely enhance prevention efforts, leading him to characterize her initiative as somewhat of an "Alibiveranstaltung" or a token gesture.
