Bundesgesundheitsministerium

Bundesgesundheitsministerium, officially Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (BMG), is the German federal ministry responsible for national health policy and public health. It develops and coordinates federal legislation and policy on health protection, disease prevention, vaccination programs, and the organization and financing of the health care system. The ministry also regulates medicines, medical devices, and other health-related safety standards in cooperation with federal agencies.

The BMG guides Germany’s health policy within the framework of the Basic Law, and it cooperates with the Länder (federal states), statutory health insurers, and professional bodies. It administers federal programs and funding mechanisms, oversees public health campaigns, and participates in European and international health policy. The ministry works with regulatory bodies and advisory committees such as the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and other agencies involved in drug, vaccine, and device regulation.

Leadership and organization: The ministry is headed by the Federal Minister of Health, who is a member of the federal cabinet, and includes a parliamentary state secretary and other civil servants. The headquarters are in Berlin, with administrative units organized into directorates-general focused on areas such as health protection, prevention, hospital and care policy, digital health, and international affairs.

History: The ministry has its origins in the postwar period and has undergone several restructurings and name changes. Since then, it has functioned as the central federal authority for health policy, public health, and the regulation of health-related sectors in Germany.