German health insurers are under attack for suggesting that patients bear the cost of a massive immunization against swine flu. The winners are – who else – the pharmaceutical companies.

Berlin estimates the immunization of some 25 million Germans will cost $850 million, although health insurance companies argue that $1.4 billion is more realistic.

Officials have ordered 50 million units of vaccine, since each person must be innoculated twice.

One big unanswered question remains: who will pay for it? Berlin has said the health insurance companies must bear the costs, while they, in turn, have threatened to raise their premiums or impose a surcharge on patients.

The Federal Association of Local Authorities (DSTGB) insists its members should not have to pay for the vaccinations. Consumer and employer associations have also warned against attempting to pass on immunization costs.

"It's poison for employment, especially during this economic crisis," said the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) in a statement.  

The pharmaceutical industry will profit greatly when the immunization program gets underway in a few weeks. Health insurers are increasingly skeptical of Berlin’s plans.

Is the effort worthwhile?

The benefits of such a massive program have not been adequately substantiated, according to Professor Gerd Glaeske, who researches pharmaceutical applications at the Center for Social Politics at the University of Bremen. “Vaccinations are not a panacea,” Glaeske said. (Photo: swine flu virus)

Some critics even suggest that much of the hysteria over a possible swine flu epidemic has been artificially created. They point to the very limited number of swine flu infections in Germany, none of which have been fatal.

“This is huge business for the pharmaceutical industry,” said Social Democrat deputy, Wolfgang Wodarg. "The swine flu outbreak is no different from a normal flu outbreak", he told the Neue Presse newspaper in Hanover. “Quite the opposite, if you compare the number of swine flu cases with other flu outbreaks. It's ridiculous,” he added.

Meanwhile, it has been determined that a so-called PCR test, which could confirm if someone has swine flu, is too unreliable to be used except in extreme cases. The test failed to detect the presence of swine flu in half of all cases.

Courtesy Deutsche Welle/germerica