December 9, 2025, 3:28 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Despite numerous warnings from scientists, Germany lags behind in implementing health care measures—with alarming results in international comparisons. A new analysis reveals how far Germany is behind in cancer prevention.
Public Health Index: Germany Only Ranks 17 out of 18
As BILD has already reported, the AOK Federal Association and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have published a Public Health Index for the first time.1 This index evaluates how effectively a total of 18 Northern and Central European countries implement the World Health Organization’s (WHO) key health policy recommendations—particularly regarding tobacco use, alcohol consumption, nutrition, and physical activity. Ratings in all four areas are equally weighted.
Germany ranks only second to last in the overall ranking: 17 out of 18.
Deficits in Tobacco, Alcohol, and Nutrition–With Enormous Costs
According to the AOK Federal Association, Germany performs particularly poorly in the categories of tobacco, alcohol, and nutrition. The economic costs of tobacco consumption amount to around 97 billion euros per year, according to the analysis. Double-digit billion amounts are also cited for obesity and alcohol consumption.
Only in physical activity does Germany reach the lower middle field. In contrast, countries like the United Kingdom, Finland, and Ireland receive significantly better ratings in the index. Norway and France are also ahead.
According to the study, these countries have already established comprehensive measures: minimum standards for school meals, taxes on harmful products, strict advertising and sales restrictions for tobacco and alcohol, and improved protection for children.
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Three Countries Far Behind–Despite High Disease Burden
Austria and Switzerland are also at the lower end of the ranking. The study authors emphasize that in Germany, in particular, there is a lack of political will to become active in health policy—even though public approval is present and the disease burden is significant.
Regular Updates of the Index Planned
In the future, the Public Health Index is to be published every two years. The current survey compares 18 countries, and the comparison is to be expanded to include more European countries in the long term.