According to the German Association of Cities, 20 to 30 percent of the clinics have to deal with the question of insolvency. Inflation exacerbates the situation. The cities are urging quick help.
In view of the financial difficulties of many clinics, the cities are pressing for further help. “Due to inflation, the costs for medical materials and food have also risen significantly,” said the President of the German Association of Cities, Markus Lewe, the German Press Agency on the nationwide day of action for hospitals on Tuesday.
The clinics cannot wait for the planned hospital reform to take effect. “They now need additional money in the short term.” Six billion euros, with which the federal government wants to compensate for the increased energy costs, are not enough.
On the day of action, numerous clinics want to draw attention to their serious situation, as the German Hospital Society explained. A central rally is planned in Berlin. The interest group had already warned that 20 to 30 percent of the clinics are currently dealing with the issue of insolvency. Time is running out because the clinics were missing ten billion euros by the end of the year.
Closures should be prevented
City Council President Lewe emphasized: “The aim must be to prevent closures so that as many people as possible can be looked after locally and receive good medical and nursing care.” It is good that the federal and state governments are tackling a reform of hospital financing. But now you have to find common solutions quickly. “It is unacceptable for cities to have to inject millions from their budgets to make up for deficits in municipal hospitals that provide care beyond the city limits.” That is the task of the federal and state governments.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) is aiming for more concrete proposals for the planned reorganization of clinics in Germany over the summer. In essence, the remuneration system is to be changed with flat rates for treatment cases in order to free clinics from economic pressure. In order not to be dependent on more and more cases, they should receive a larger share of the remuneration simply for providing services. The focus is also on nationwide quality criteria and classifications of more precisely defined service areas with appropriate financing.
Source: Stern
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