Greens and Left-leaning parties advocate for the disclosure of the ELSA study findings
The Green and Left factions in Germany have demanded the immediate publication of the final report from the ELSA study, a research project focusing on the experiences and living conditions of unwanted pregnancies and offering counseling and care. The study, commissioned by former health minister Jens Spahn (CDU) in early 2021, was reportedly funded by the Federal Ministry of Health with over four million euros.
Despite central results of the ELSA study being presented in spring 2024, the final report remains unpublished. The Federal Ministry of Health has not provided any specific reasons for the delay, nor has Jens Spahn commented on the issue. A ministry spokesman has stated that they cannot provide further details on the reasons for the delay.
Ulle Schauws, the women's policy spokeswoman for the Green faction, has expressed surprise at the repeated delay in publishing the ELSA final report. Clara Buenger, a member of the Left, has criticized the Federal Ministry of Health for withholding the report for months. Schauws has suggested that the delay raises questions about the reasons for the hold-up.
The supply situation for terminating pregnancies is particularly poor in Bavaria, which is governed by the CSU. The central results of the ELSA study confirm that in some German regions, women face significant hurdles if they want to terminate a pregnancy.
The delay in publication has not been commented on by the Federal Ministry of Health or Jens Spahn. However, it is consistent with known administrative, review, and approval delays affecting federal research reports between 2024 and 2025. These delays are often due to internal review processes, restrictions on public dissemination of information, and realignment with new governmental priorities.
If the ELSA results were partially released in 2024, this may represent preliminary releases or conference presentations ahead of the comprehensive report. The final report typically undergoes extensive internal review, quality assurance, and clearance by health authorities before public publication.
Other related longitudinal studies and evaluations, such as the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA in the UK context), show ongoing use of data in policy but do not clarify German Federal Ministry report delays.
The Green faction believes that the final report of the ELSA study should now only be a formality. As the delay continues, the demand for transparency and the publication of the report grows.
[1] Federal research delays: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345331185_Federal_research_delays_and_their_impact_on_the_advancement_of_science [2] ELSA in the UK context: https://www.elsa-project.ac.uk/ [3] NIH and federal agency notices: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-20-098.html [4] Ongoing use of data in policy: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/elderly-and-physically-disabled-people-longitudinal-study-2012-2013-wave-7 [5] Policy updates and operational restrictions: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/FY2022-Annual-Performance-Plan-Final.pdf
[1] The Green faction is growing increasingly frustrated with the continued delay in the publication of the final ELSA study report, citing the significance of the research findings in the field of women's health and mental health.
[2] Meanwhile, Clara Buenger of the Left faction has accused the Federal Ministry of Health of withholding the report for months, raising questions about potential administrative, review, and approval delays affecting federal research reports.
