Prenatal diagnostics: Bundestag votes for observation of blood tests in pregnant women

The Bundestag voted with a large majority in favor of data collection on the consequences of health insurance approval of non-invasive blood tests. Pregnant women can use such tests to check their child for Down syndrome.

Parliament adopted a motion from a cross-party group of MPs intended to pressure the federal government to introduce monitoring. A committee of experts will then examine the legal, ethical and health policy basis according to which health insurance companies pay for the non-invasive prenatal test.

However, the application also states: It will be ensured that pregnant women's access to the health insurance-financed blood test "is not made more difficult if there is a justified medical indication." The initiators agreed on this change with other MPs shortly before the debate. 529 MPs voted for the motion, there were 18 votes against and 23 abstentions.

Since 2022, the blood tests can be paid for by statutory health insurance companies under certain conditions. This was decided by the Joint Federal Committee of doctors, clinics and health insurance companies. Blood is taken from pregnant women and genetically analyzed. It is less risky than tests in which amniotic fluid is taken through the woman's abdominal wall.

The initiative for a closer look at the implementation of blood tests was already introduced in 2024 during the previous electoral period. Because of the break in the traffic light coalition, there was no further vote. Advocates fear that prenatal testing as a health insurance benefit could lead to tacit selection and ask: How perfect does a baby have to be to be allowed to be born? With Down syndrome, people have one more chromosome in each cell. There are three copies of chromosome 21, hence the name trisomy 21. The consequences are physical abnormalities and slowed motor, mental and linguistic development. However, manifestations can be very different.