Former Health Minister Jens Spahn Faces Intense Scrutiny Over COVID-19 Mask Procurement Mishandling

Former German Health Minister Jens Spahn is under intense political and public scrutiny for his handling of mask procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic, amidst growing criticism of over-purchasing and contract mismanagement that have resulted in costly financial and legal consequences.

According to the Bundesrechnungshof (Federal Audit Office), the Health Ministry massively over-purchased masks, acquiring 5.8 billion masks at a cost of 5.9 billion euros, with over 3.4 billion masks being destroyed or slated for destruction. Despite these expenditures, supply security for protective equipment in healthcare remains unguaranteed. The Bundesrechnungshof faulted the Ministry for inadequate oversight, insufficient documentation, and entering fixed-price contracts without proper negotiation. These procurement activities, mainly through numerous individual contracts until May 2020, deviated significantly from the initial emergency goals by April 2020, with only 1.7 billion masks distributed domestically.

The Federal Ministry of Health has classified the excess masks as part of a national reserve, but this lacks a legal basis or conceptual framework. Follow-up costs related to managing the excess stock are projected to reach 517 million euros by the end of 2024. Furthermore, litigation from suppliers against the federal government has grown, with around 100 lawsuits amounting to approximately 2.3 billion euros still pending.

Political pressure has mounted on Spahn, who led the CDU parliamentary group and was Health Minister at the time. The Greens have demanded transparency and accountability, calling for investigations into breaches of duty, nepotism, and mismanagement. They have prepared detailed questions for the Bundestag’s Corona Enquete Commission, which is reviewing vaccine and medical supply procurement and plans recommendations for future pandemics by mid-2027.

Notably, former special investigator Margaretha Sudhof highlighted that Spahn’s independent handling of mask procurement contravened advice from his own departments, exposing the government to substantial financial risks. In July 2024, a court ruled that the government must pay 86 million euros plus interest to a trading company, with the total potential taxpayer liability estimated at 2.5 billion euros.

Spahn has defended his actions, citing the urgency of global demand at the pandemic’s start as justification for rapid procurement decisions. The Bundestag Enquete Commission is scheduled to hear testimonies from Spahn, Sudhof, and Bundesrechnungshof representatives, focusing on procurement controversies. The session aims to clarify responsibility and improve future crisis management, although it is not a formal investigative body.

This unfolding controversy highlights lasting repercussions from the pandemic’s early chaotic procurement phase and ongoing political and financial challenges Germany faces in ensuring both transparency and efficiency in health crisis management.