Interview: Annika Liebert

Protesters strip down to save free skin cancer screenings in bold demonstration

Annika Liebert is a campaigner with Campact. The rally "Save Skin Cancer Screening" is set to begin on Wednesday (April 29) at 8:30 a.m. near the Chancellery.

our website: Ms. Liebert, Campact is calling for a protest in Berlin on Wednesday morning under the slogan "No Cuts to Skin Cancer Screening." What exactly do you have planned?

Annika Liebert: We're organizing a visual protest in front of the Chancellery because Health Minister Nina Warken is presenting her reform package to the cabinet. Our goal is to highlight the unfairness of these cuts—especially the elimination of skin cancer screening. To make our point, we'll symbolically undress and hold signs featuring bare bodies, inspired by a screening exam, with slogans like "Healthcare must remain affordable" and "Minister Warken, don't cut us sick."

our website: Skin cancer screening for everyone aged 35 and over could be scrapped. Your petition against this has already gathered 500,000 signatures. Why does this issue resonate so deeply with so many people?

Liebert: Cancer affects nearly everyone—whether through personal experience or loved ones. On top of that, skin cancer cases are rising sharply. Over the past 20 years, the number has nearly doubled. People don't want to look the other way.

our website: What do you hope to achieve with this protest?

Liebert: First, we want to ensure that skin cancer screening remains available every two years for everyone aged 35 and up. We welcome improvements, like better patient information or more frequent check-ups for high-risk groups, but the right to screening must stay in place for all. Second, healthcare must stay affordable—this includes sick pay, child sickness benefits, and prescription co-pays. And third, we demand that the pharmaceutical industry contribute far more. In Germany, drug companies can largely set their own prices for new patented medications, driving up healthcare costs. There's huge potential for savings here.

our website: What would happen if universal skin cancer screening for those 35 and older were eliminated?

Liebert: If the costs are no longer covered, many people won't be able to afford the exam. We fear fewer will take prevention seriously. Dermatologists are already warning that skin cancer will be detected less often—and, crucially, later. That means more invasive surgeries and more medication for patients. Studies show that screening catches tumors early, which helps patients and ultimately eases the burden on the healthcare system.