Vacancy rate at the Robert Koch Institute reaches 25%
The staffing shortages at Germany's Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) are causing concerns, as they are impacting the country's ability to effectively manage and mitigate pandemic crises.
Key reasons for these staffing shortages include institutional restructuring and increased workload due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The German Federal Ministry of Health's initiative to create the National Institute for Prevention and Education in Medicine (BIPAM) led to the transfer of much of the RKI's non-communicable disease research and surveillance staff to the new agency, leaving the RKI to focus solely on infectious disease control. This fundamental reshuffling caused gaps and vacancies at the RKI and potentially affected other institutes like the PEI as research and personnel responsibilities were realigned.
During the pandemic, both the RKI and the PEI faced sharply increased demands for pandemic response, such as vaccine advisory roles, surveillance, and risk communication. Shortages of experts and protective equipment further strained their capacities. The delayed or insufficient arrival of protective gear amplified operational challenges.
The impact of these vacancies and shortages on pandemic control is significant. With key research and surveillance staff moved or lost during restructuring, the RKI’s ability to monitor infectious diseases comprehensively is weakened. This could delay the detection and response to emerging pathogens. The replacement of two-thirds of experts in the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at the RKI and changes in appointment procedures indicate instability and potential delays in vaccination policy-making. Overall public health coordination is also weakened, increasing vulnerabilities in Germany’s preparedness for infectious disease threats.
As of February 15, 2021, the RKI has 28% of its planned positions unfilled, totaling 147 positions. The vacancy rate at the Paul Ehrlich Institute is 17%, while at the RKI, it is 28% for all positions and 32% for civil service positions. The PEI, responsible for vaccine approval, has 17% of its planned 403.3 positions unfilled.
The RKI added 131 positions in the 2021 budget year, primarily for the "Center for Artificial Intelligence in Public Health Research (ZKI-PH)". However, the majority of the selection processes for these new positions have not yet taken place.
The RKI is one of the central institutions in pandemic control, and the FDP politician, Christian Dürr, criticized the Federal Ministry of Health for the vacancies at the RKI and the PEI, referring to them as examples of Corona mismanagement. The RKI and the PEI have not commented on the staffing situation.
References: [1] Business Insider. (n.d.). Staff shortages at the Robert Koch Institute and the Paul Ehrlich Institute are causing concerns. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.de/ [2] Deutsche Welle. (n.d.). Staff shortages at the Robert Koch Institute and the Paul Ehrlich Institute impact pandemic control efforts. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/
The staffing shortages at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI), primarily caused by institutional restructuring and increased workload due to the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to concerns within the health-and-wellness sector. This situation, affecting 28% of positions at the RKI and 17% at the PEI, has implications for the finance industry as well, with delays in vaccination policy-making and potential vulnerabilities in Germany’s preparedness for infectious disease threats. The RKI's focus on fundraising for the new "Center for Artificial Intelligence in Public Health Research (ZKI-PH)" suggests a shift in financial resources towards technological advancements, possibly impacting other crucial health-and-business areas.
