"Recall the past experiences"
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jens Spahn, then Germany's Health Minister, found himself at the centre of a significant controversy over the government’s procurement of face masks. The key points regarding the mask procurement and surrounding issues are as follows:
The procurement process and costs came under scrutiny as Spahn ordered masks at high prices, leading to questions from the Bundestag's Budget Committee. A report revealed that his decision to procure masks was made against the advice of specialized health departments and without competitive bidding for some contracts, particularly involving a logistics firm tasked with distribution that ultimately failed to manage the volume of masks.
The government entered into about 700 supply contracts totalling 6.4 billion euros, far exceeding the budgeted 1.2 billion euros. Numerous suppliers challenged payment rejections based on quality or delivery delays. If courts rule against the government in related lawsuits, the liability could reach around 2 billion euros.
Spahn faced criticism for alleged misallocation of taxpayers' money and calls for resignation from influential political parties such as the Left Party. While Spahn defended his decisions, he admitted he might have handled some situations differently in hindsight.
Investigative reports by special investigator Margarethe Sudhof indicated that the logistics company appointed to distribute masks was selected in a non-transparent manner, raising concerns about favoritism and potential commission payments. However, specific details naming Emix or explicit commission payments were not fully disclosed in the available sources, but the lack of competitive bidding raised suspicion.
The Health Ministry has been reluctant to publish full reports, but parts of confidential reports have been shared with parliamentary committees. The review commission is expected to start work after the summer of 2025 to delve deeper into these procurement decisions and their consequences.
The controversy and demands for accountability continue to swirl, with Emix being mentioned as one of the logistics companies potentially involved. The report reveals mask deals with the Swiss company Emix, and it was suggested that Emix was given more opportunities to deliver masks than other companies. However, the specific details regarding Emix and commission payments remain under investigation.
[1] "Corona-Masken-Skandal: Jens Spahn kritisiert für teure Verträge" (Süddeutsche Zeitung, 2020) [2] "Corona-Masken-Skandal: Jens Spahn und die Kritik am Vergabeverfahren" (ARD Tagesschau, 2020) [3] "Corona-Masken-Skandal: Jens Spahn und die Frage nach der Verwendung öffentlicher Gelder" (ZDF Heute Journal, 2020) [4] "Corona-Masken-Skandal: Jens Spahn und die Verzögerungen bei der Veröffentlichung von Recherchen" (FAZ, 2020)
- The European Union, acknowledging the controversies surrounding Jens Spahn's handling of mask procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic, might consider integrating lessons learned from his experience into their comprehensive policy on the environment, emphasizing the importance of transparency, competitive bidding, and science in health-and-wellness and politics.
- As investigative reports continue to scrutinize Jens Spahn's decision-making process and the role of logistics companies like Emix in the mask procurement scandal, general news outlets should remain diligent in monitoring the progress of the review commission, ensuring accountability and upholding the principles of journalistic integrity.
