What do you think he means exactly by "market forces" in this context?
Prior to this outbreak, belief in market forces had contributed to the degradation of our health service, despite the enormous commitment of its staff, as indicated by numerous studies based on data measuring quality and performance. It was barely managing to cope with our needs before the virus.
Am I reading it right, that you think the government is playing a blinder but is hampered by the inefficiency of the NHS? Its great policies hamstrung by bureaucrats in the health service? Really?
Might it be a factor that Germany spends above European average on health and we spend below it? Their devolved system allowed regions to set and implement policy and testing, and to co-opt labs from business and from universities and medical facilities from the outset. While they were testing, tracking, isolating, we were guinea pigs in a plan, now aborted and disowned, to let the virus spread and rely on alleged immunity, while keeping the old and vulnerable indoors.
By market forces I think he means the devolved federal states identifying and responding to demands instead of awaiting instruction from an autonomous public body. The German market forces also help to define the medical standards in accordance with private insurance underwriters as opposed to continually asking for more money.
I don't know the figures for the German health industry but I'd be extremely surprised if it lost £1.3 billion a year due to (known) fraud (often amongst its own staff) like our NHS does.
I haven't mentioned the government but as it happens I don't think they, or any other in Europe, are "playing a blinder" but it does seem unfortunate that NHS rejected PPE supplies that weren't compliant with their purchasing procedures, resulting in the items being sold overseas, where presumably the customer was either more pragmatic,or, more flexible.