A Conversation with Imke Wagenknecht: Human Rights Responsibility Across the Hospital Supply Chain

Question: Ms. Wagenknecht, what responsibility does hospital procurement bear when it comes to respecting human rights along the supply chain?

Imke Wagenknecht: As procurement, we bear a significant responsibility – not only for ensuring the supply security of our hospitals, but also for the conditions under which the products we purchase are manufactured. This includes, for example, single-use medical products, pharmaceuticals obtained through our pharmacies, and food for our patients. In these and many other supply chains, we have already achieved a great deal. However, going forward, we must work even more closely with our specialist departments to increase transparency and continuously improve our efforts to meet our human rights responsibilities.

Question: How do you intend to create this transparency?

Imke Wagenknecht: A central element is the contractual commitment of our suppliers to uphold ethical, social, environmental, and human rights standards. Since 2022, these commitments have been integrated into our Supplier Code of Conduct, which sets out binding obligations. In 2023, we furthermore introduced a human rights and environmental clause for suppliers at increased risk of human rights or environmental breaches. This creates a clear framework of expectations and forms the basis for responsible cooperation.

In addition, we conduct an annual human rights risk analysis of our supply chain. Based on this, we send out topic-specific supplier self-assessments to obtain a solid understanding of processes, potential gaps, and the associated risks along our supply chain. Our approach is always risk-based. That means we allocate our resources strategically, focusing especially on areas, suppliers, or countries where the likelihood or potential impact of human rights violations are greatest.

At the same time, we also respond to ad hoc risks: for example, media reports and external studies have pointed out human rights risks in the production of single-use medical gloves. As we use around 150 million gloves annually, we have carried out a focused risk analysis in this area and sought active dialogue with our key glove suppliers. Such ad-hoc analyses enable us to take targeted action.

Question: What opportunities arise for procurement and the hospital as a whole when human rights are actively considered and respected?

Imke Wagenknecht: Considering human rights along the supply chain is an investment in the company’s long-term viability. For Helios, this specifically means: we gain resilience, develop a deeper understanding of our upstream supply chains, manage risks more effectively, and work with partners who share our values. For the hospital as a whole, this commitment not only strengthens legal compliance but also builds trust among patients, employees, and the public. At the same time, human rights responsibility becomes an integral part of sustainable hospital operations.