German health organizations call for cross-sectoral prevention strategy

Leading scientific and health organizations in Germany are calling for a cross-sectoral strategy to integrate health prevention into all areas of public policy. The National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Science Council, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), and German Cancer Aid issued a joint statement arguing that prevention must become a societal task rather than being confined solely to the healthcare sector.

In response to demographic shifts and increasing pressure on the healthcare system, the organizations advocate for prevention to be treated as an investment in economic productivity, social participation, and long-term system stability. Key proposed measures include integrating health considerations into sectors such as education, labor, transport, urban development, and the environment. Additionally, they emphasize the need to better network preventive research across various disciplines and to establish healthy living conditions as a standard in schools, workplaces, and residential areas.