Research project

Health Literacy

National Action Plan health literacy

For the first time health literacy in the German population is systematically promoted by a National Action Plan. The plan was developed by a joint research project between the Hertie School and Bielefeld University directed by Klaus Hurrelmann (Hertie School), Doris Schaeffer and Ullrich Bauer (Bielefeld), and Kai Kolpatzik (Federal Association of the AOK). The project is under the patronage of the Federal Ministry of Health. Following the example of health literacy initiatives in other countries, German-based experts from varying disciplines developed concrete recommendations for improving health literacy in Germany. The development was funded by the Robert Bosch Foundation and the Federal Association of the AOK.

The National Action Plan Health Literacy was presented in 2018. It focuses on four areas of action and presents 15 concrete recommendations for promoting health literacy in Germany. The implementation of the National Action Plan is accompanied by various expert workshops, which are devoted to concretising and deepening individual recommendations of the plan. The results of the workshops are incorporated into strategy papers, which are successively published. The implementation is funded by the Robert Bosch Foundation.

Website of the National Action Plan Health Literacy

Project leads

  • Klaus Hurrelmann, Professor of Public Health and Education

  • <link de ueber-uns profil person schaeffer>Doris Schaeffer, Senior Fellow

Researchers

  • Svea Gille, Research Associate to Klaus Hurrelmann