It is the highest German federal government department responsible for health.

In 2002, it was expanded to include social affairs and renamed "Federal Ministry of Health and Social Security" (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit und Soziale Sicherung).

Its portfolio included one part of the former Federal Ministry of Labour and the Social Order.

The other part of the latter was added to the portfolio of the newly created Federal Ministry for Economics and Labour.

Under the grand coalition headed by Angela Merkel in 2005, the portfolio reshuffle was reversed and responsibility for social affairs was moved back to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social affairs (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales).