Inside Charité: How politicians react to the research

stern Investigative

The research of star and RTL on grievances at Germany’s largest university hospital, the Charité, have attracted some attention in political Berlin. The allegations raised in the report are “carefully examined and must be completely dispelled,” said a spokesman for the Berlin Senate Department for Science, Health and Care when asked. In this regard, they are “naturally in close contact with the Charité.” The Senator for Health, Ina Czyborra (SPD), is also the chairwoman of the Charité’s supervisory board.

A team of reporters from star and RTL has uncovered deficiencies at the clinic. He also has two surveys of doctors and medical students at the Charité, which reveal a blatant contradiction between expectations and the reality experienced by those surveyed. More than half of the more than 200 doctors surveyed rated the quality of patient care in their own hospital as poor or inadequate under the given circumstances. In addition, more than 100 medical students – so-called PJ students – stated that they would not recommend the Charité as a teaching hospital. The Charité rejected the allegations. When confronted with the two surveys, their lawyer wrote: The Charité was not aware of the two surveys, but their results were “not representative” anyway. He also referred to rankings according to which the Charité is regularly named one of the best hospitals.

Reporters from star and RTL had Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) He was confronted with this question on camera during the research. He said he could not “interfere in the personnel policy of the Charité”. Regarding the general situation of German hospitals, he said that the country did not have enough doctors for the 1,700 existing hospitals: “The quality is not good enough. We cannot carry on like this.”

Experts from all three traffic light parties in the federal government and the CDU/CSU did not want to comment on the allegations in detail. However, they admitted that there were negative developments in German hospitals.

The Health policy spokesman for the Greens, Janosch Dahmensaid it was important “that we finally listen to the complaints of patients and staff from almost all hospitals in Germany.” The simultaneous over-, under- and incorrect provision of care is now endangering patients and staff alike everywhere in Germany. “No country in Europe spends so much money on its hospitals and at the same time has such major structural deficiencies in care,” said Dahmen.

TheHealth policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, Andrew Ullmannsaid: The Charité, like other university hospitals, has been struggling with financial pressure and staff shortages for years. “It is unfortunately not surprising that training and care are suffering as a result.” Ullmann continued that the statements from selective surveys should not be generalized. Nevertheless, they and the research show “that we urgently need hospital structural reform.” University hospitals in particular must be provided with more staff and resources.

TheHealth policy spokesman of the CDU/CSU in the Bundestag, Tino Sorgesaid of the results of the research: “Where mistakes are made in individual cases, they must be addressed.” This should also be in the interest of the Charité.

TheTobias Schulze, spokesman for science policy for the Left Party in the Berlin House of Representativessaid of the research: “The Charité is suffering from the effects of the case-based financing system.” It forces clinics to generate as many cases as possible with as few staff as possible. But the internal organizational structure of the Charité also needs to be examined.