Care reform stalled as coalition dispute keeps it off cabinet agenda
The long-awaited nursing-care reform proposed by Health Minister Carsten Linnemann was not included in the agenda of Wednesday’s cabinet meeting.
Wednesday’s cabinet session did not list the nursing-care reform, despite expectations that it would be approved that day. The omission was evident in the published cabinet papers, which showed the proposal missing from both the main agenda and the fast-track TOP-1 list. The gap highlights ongoing tensions within the governing coalition over the reform’s financing and scope. SPD leader Matthias Miersch has opposed a pure cost-cutting plan and pushed for a spending cap and greater parity between private and statutory insurance. The Union bloc remains resistant to key elements of the SPD’s demands.
Why it matters
The delay shows deep coalition rifts that could stall vital improvements to Germany’s long-term care system.
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