Cologne's health in focus: New institute for prevention and education!

The Federal Ministry of Health is reforming health education in Germany: The Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) is being converted into the new Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG). This decision marks a significant step towards modernizing healthcare communications and responding to today's challenges.

The BZgA was a central player in health communication in the country for 57 years and initiated several well-known prevention campaigns, such as “Don’t give AIDS a chance” and “Know your limit”. The BIÖG aims to improve cooperation in the public health service (ÖGD) and strengthen the prevention of illnesses. In 2024, 73 million euros from the federal budget and 12.9 million euros from third-party funds will flow to support the new institute.

Health challenges and measures

The challenges in the healthcare system are increasingly complex. Topics such as the corona pandemic, mental health and the effects of climate change are currently of central importance. In 2023, 28% of people in Cologne died from diseases of the circulatory system, 23% from cancer and 8% from respiratory diseases. Psychological behavioral disorders were responsible for about 7% of deaths. BIÖG will work closely with the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) to generate relevant data and aim for improved health education.

Particular attention is paid to the mental health of young people, 25% of whom are assessed as having psychological problems. On the subject of climate change, BIÖG provides information about the risks of cannabis consumption and offers support for specialists. The legalization of cannabis is largely viewed positively, but there are concerns about its health effects.

In addition, BIÖG carries out information on health prevention through nine campaigns. These campaigns also include “Don’t give heat a chance” and “Alcohol? Know your limit”. In socially disadvantaged districts such as Chorweiler, tests and vaccinations were offered during the pandemic. The agency currently has 333 employees and views health as a cross-cutting issue that is highly dependent on the environment.

Several studies and reports are already uniting, such as the article in Medical Journal, who report low risk perceptions regarding the health consequences of climate change. This perception could negatively influence willingness to act to combat the climate crisis. According to a study by the RKI, around two thirds of those surveyed rate the risk of mental illness from the climate crisis as low.

However, communicating health risks from climate change could increase the willingness to take action. For effective communication, it is crucial to use various sources of information and to use the trustworthiness of health authorities, which is very high in Germany.