Munich – – September 09, 2026 -- Medical relief organization Ärzte der Welt has warned that the AfD's election victory in Saxony-Anhalt could jeopardize healthcare access for vulnerable populations across Germany, citing risks to uninsured patients, refugee families and homeless individuals.
AfD's potential Bundesrat entry raises funding risks for uninsured care
Ärzte der Welt Director Katri Bertram said that if the AfD takes over the state government and enters the Bundesrat, it could endanger patient health in Magdeburg and nationwide. She specifically flagged risks to families fleeing war zones, homeless people and those in poverty, warning that increased exclusion could worsen population-wide health outcomes, including unchecked infectious diseases.
Untreated chronic conditions already strain Germany's health system, organization says
The organization operates free clinics and mobile treatment units for uninsured patients in five German cities. In Magdeburg alone, 2,025 people from 23 countries sought help in the organization's upcoming annual health report, with 38% holding German citizenship. Ärzte der Welt states that unmanaged chronic illnesses and delayed infection treatment already drive emergency-level costs for the broader healthcare system.
NGO coalition pushes #GesundheitUnteilbar campaign for funding continuity
Ärzte der Welt has called on democratic parties in Saxony-Anhalt and nationally to secure long-term financing for care infrastructure, including the Clearingstelle Gesundheitsversorgung Sachsen-Anhalt. The organization's #GesundheitUnteilbar campaign has been joined by trade union ver.di, the Arbeiterwohlfahrt welfare association, the German Midwives Association, and the Federal Association of Psychosocial Centers, among other health and social sector groups.