Berlin. The Federal Association of Physicians in the Public Health Service (BVÖGD) welcomes this Federal Cabinet decision to create the “Federal Institute for Prevention and Education in Medicine” (BIPAM). “With BIPAM there is an opportunity to fill the historical gap in population medicine in the German research and care system,” said the association’s first vice-president, Dr. Emanuel Wiggerich.
“The health authorities in Germany are very committed to the health of the population in Germany. We would like additional support from the new institute for this work,” said the Vice President of the BVÖGD. For example, it is important to inform the population about health issues in a targeted manner with the help of the institute and to increase health literacy.
Wiggerich emphasized that the BVÖGD views the division of communicable and non-communicable diseases between two different federal institutes – the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the new BIPAM – critically, as stated in a statement. According to the draft “Act on Strengthening Public Health”, BIPAM is to start its work on January 1, 2025 and take over the tasks of the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) and parts of the RKI. (eb)