Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
3w ago

Germany’s Health Minister Withholds Internal Report on Failed €1.5 Billion Mask Contract

Her refusal to release Sudhoff’s April findings to the Bundestag has intensified scrutiny over transparency in the Health Ministry

FFP2-Masken
Jens Spahn sitzt mit Corona-Schutzmaske im Bundestag.
Der ehemalige Bundesgesundheitsminister Jens Spahn (CDU)
Image

Overview

  • An April report by special commissioner Margaretha Sudhoff criticizes former Health Minister Jens Spahn for awarding a €1.5 billion mask procurement contract to Fiege without a competitive tender despite warnings from the Interior Ministry.
  • Sudhoff’s findings reveal Spahn bypassed the government crisis team’s logistics plan involving DHL and Schenker, resulting in a procurement failure that may have caused a billion-euro loss and the destruction of many unusable masks.
  • Current Health Minister Nina Warken has refused to submit the classified report to the Bundestag, drawing strong criticism from Green Party lawmakers who accuse her of shielding Spahn.
  • Several suppliers have filed lawsuits against the Federal Ministry of Health over unmet procurement agreements, including a €480 million suit in Bonn seeking delivery at originally contracted prices.
  • The federal government has incurred roughly €86 million in legal and advisory fees related to COVID-19 equipment disputes, with further costs expected as litigation continues.