New Normality with Covid-19 – what Must Health Policy Achieve?

Jens Spahn, Federal Minister of Health and Member of the Federal Executive Board of the CDU, spoke on Monday, October 12, 2020, on the subject of "New normality with Covid-19 - What do we expect health policy to achieve?”

Compared to other countries, Germany has come through the crisis well so far - health policy has passed the first test. To keep it that way, it is important to look ahead and ask yourself the following questions:

• What does health policy need to achieve in the future?
• Where does the system in Germany still have weaknesses?
• Where does the system need new structures?
• What resources will be needed and how should cooperation with other departments proceed?

In his lecture, Federal Minister Spahn explained the challenges currently on his agenda so that society and the economy can return to (new) normality as soon as possible.

General Information on the Presentation

The presentation was held in German and took place as an online event.

The event was part of the series October 2020 till March 2021:

„The New World (Dis)order – How Business and Politics Can Build a Post-pandemic New Normal“

The aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic is enormous, not only in health terms but also economically and politically. How can a sustainable recovery from its effects be achieved? To answer this question, different perspectives must be taken: The crisis has fueled geopolitical changes, e.g. in the power relations between the EU, USA and China, which have already begun. What new alliances are emerging and what is breaking up? The crisis could also be a catalyst for questioning and realigning traditional industrial structures. Who is losing? Who is benefiting? For the governments of the affected states, the rescue measures have cost a lot of money. High levels of national debt are therefore fuelling concerns that taxes will have to be raised and state benefits cut in the future. What does this mean for prosperity? The coronavirus pandemic has also significantly impaired efforts to provide education and training, especially for young people – and may redistribute income and wealth now and in the future. We are moreover seeing how the crisis is accelerating the digitalisation of the economy. This will change the way we work. How can we counteract risks and make the best possible use of opportunities?