Warken: “Crisis-resistant health care is a fundamental part of forward-looking security policy.”
While participating in the Munich Security Conference (13 - 14 February 2026), Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken pointed out the importance of linking health policy and security policy. The focus of her visit was the resilience of the healthcare system.
In the course of the conference, the Minister took part in events organised by the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, the World Health Summit as well as the Bundeswehr. Specifically, strategies to strengthen medical care structures and ensure sufficient staff capacities and data as well as the importance of close civil-military coordination were discussed.
A resilient health care system is not a luxury, but a security necessity. We must design and strengthen our structures in such a way that they can also withstand crisis situations and provide the civilian population, the Bundeswehr and NATO partners with quality medical care. This includes stable supply chains, appropriately trained personnel, reliable infrastructures and close coordination with our national and international partners. That is why we are working intensively on drafting a Health Emergency Act that addresses and regulates these and other considerations. To make sure that we are optimally prepared against crisis situations.
In addition, on the sidelines of the Conference, Minister Warken exchanged ideas with international partners. Here, too, the focus was on the resilience of national and international health care systems, and joint approaches were discussed to strengthen their ability to withstand crises.
Through her participation, the Minister highlighted the close links that exist between public health policy and security policy and sent out a clear signal to sustainably strengthen the resilience of the healthcare system.