Overview
- Federal statistics released on May 28, 2026 show 120,100 stationary hospital treatment cases for skin cancer in 2024, an increase of about 94.5% since 2004 and far outpacing the overall rise in hospital cases.
- Deaths from skin cancer rose to roughly 4,600 in 2024, a 65% increase since 2004, and more than half of those fatalities were people aged 80 or older.
- The rise is driven mainly by white (basal and squamous cell) skin cancers, which increased about 117% over 20 years, with melanoma hospital treatments up roughly 42%; Destatis data count treatment episodes, not unique patients, so repeat admissions can inflate trends.
- Health Minister Nina Warken has proposed putting the population‑wide screening (biennial checks for insured people 35+) under review and limiting statutory coverage to defined risk groups, a plan that needs Bundestag and Bundesrat approval and could trigger a G‑BA evaluation through the end of 2027.
- Dermatologists and cancer experts urge refining rather than scrapping screening by using risk assessment, targeted intervals for high‑risk people, faster approval of diagnostic aids including approved AI tools, and stronger UV‑protection measures to reduce occupational and leisure exposure.