Prof. Dr. Leonie Sundmacher, head of the Associate Professorship of Health Economics, has been appointed to the Expert Council on Health and Care of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) as of February 1, 2023. Together with six other top-class experts, the TUM health economist will advise the Federal Ministry of Health, the Bundestag and the Bundesrat for the next four years.
The appointment to the Expert Council on Health and Care is a great personal honour and at the same time shows the reputation that the Department of Sport and Health Sciences now enjoys on a national level.
As an expert in regional health care research, quality management and analyses in the health care system, the health economist brings with her extensive experience - both in research and in the application of research results in political consultation. "We live in a time of upheaval and change. This also applies to our health system. I am all the more pleased that I can support the necessary reform processes with my expertise", explains Prof. Sundmacher.
The first constituent meeting of the Expert Council took place on Tuesday, February 28 2023, in Berlin. In addition to the ceremonial welcoming of the new Council members and the election of the new Chair, Prof. Dr. Michael Hallek, there was an initial exchange of ideas on the challenges facing the health care system, especially on the topic of the shortage of skilled workers.
Federal Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach was enthusiastic about the new Expert Eouncil: "I am looking forward to important, new impulses from science for our work. In the health sector, too, we as a society are confronted with a lack of skilled workers. That is why I asked the Expert Council to address this issue in its first report. We must find ways to provide good care for the baby boomers as they get older and sicker," explains Prof. Lauterbach on the homepage of the Federal Ministry of Health.
Not least the Corona pandemic showed how important the issue of the shortage of skilled workers is for society. Prof. Sundmacher also sees the problem in an increasingly ageing society: "Demographic change will in all likelihood be accompanied by an increase in demand. The labour force potential is decreasing and the speed of care is steadily increasing. We need to prudently analyze how to address these trends so that needs-based care of high quality is ensured."
The independent body of the Expert Council produces an expert report on the development of health care every twelve months. The members meet at least once a month.
The members of the Expert Council (in alphabetical order):
- Prof. Nils Gutacker, PhD (Professor of Health Economics at the University of York).
- Prof. Dr. med. Michael Hallek (Director of the Clinic for Internal Medicine at the University Hospital Cologne and Deputy Director of the Centre for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf)
- Prof. Dr. med. Stefanie Joos (Chair of General Medicine in Tübingen and Medical Director of the Institute for General Medicine and Interprofessional Care at the University Hospital Tübingen)
- Prof. Dr. PH Melanie Messer (Professor of Nursing Science with a focus on clinical nursing across the lifespan at the University of Trier)
- Prof. Dr. med. Jochen Schmitt, MPH (Director of the Health Economics Centre at the Technical University of Dresden)
- Prof. Dr. rer. oec. Jonas Schreyögg (Scientific Director of the Hamburg Center for Health Economics (HCHE) at the University of Hamburg)
- Prof. Dr. rer. oec. Leonie Sundmacher (Professor of Health Economics)
To the homepage of the Associate Professorship of Health Economics
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Leonie Sundmacher
Associate Professorship of Health Economics
Georg-Brauchle Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24464
e-mail: leonie.sundmacher(at)tum.de
Text: Bastian Daneyko
Photos: BMG/Thomas Ecke/private