Germany: Health reform law passes all stages

Legislation introducing a comprehensive reform of the financing and services of Germany's complex statutory health system (Germany: Coalition partners agree health and pension reforms) passed its final parliamentary stage on 16 February 2007, when it was adopted by the upper house (Bundesrat), having completed its second and third readings in the lower house (Bundestag) earlier in the month.

While a number of changes will come into force from 1 April 2007, a fundamental reform of the financing of the system, in the form of a new national health fund and changes to rights for those in private health schemes, will not take effect until 2009.