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Robert Koch Institute in Berlin: »Rethinking and further developing«
Photo: Sascha Steinach / IMAGO
The FDP health politician Andrew Ullmann sees Lothar Wieler's withdrawal as an opportunity to structure the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) independently of politics.
"Of course, every end also has a beginning, we now have the opportunity to rethink and further develop the Robert Koch Institute," said Ullmann of the "Augsburger Allgemeine".
"This also means that we no longer restrict the RKI in its scientific work and make it an independent institution, as we agreed in the coalition agreement." He expects that Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) will present a corresponding legislative proposal.
The RKI is part of the division of the Federal Ministry of Health.
This structure was also partly criticized.
Wieler and the RKI have repeatedly come under political pressure and criticism.
The significance of the pandemic data provided by the RKI was also discussed again and again.
Lothar Wieler is resigning from his position as President of the RKI on April 1 at his own request.
The 61-year-old was a central figure in the corona pandemic.
phw/dpa
