Hospital Reform: Urgent Need for Financial Support to Prevent Insolvencies

Brandenburg's healthcare sector is facing significant challenges, as many hospitals grapple with financial instability. Health Minister Britta Müller has emphasized the necessity for federal assistance to avert further insolvencies within the system.

During a recent session of the Health Committee in the state parliament in Potsdam, Müller highlighted the pressing need for intervention. She noted that approximately 80 percent of hospitals in Brandenburg are currently operating at a loss, a situation that could worsen without immediate action. The decline in demand for hospital services, coupled with a widespread shortage of healthcare professionals--including doctors, nurses, and midwives--has exacerbated the crisis.

In the past, facilities like the Naëmi-Wilke-Stift in Guben have already announced their intent to enter self-administration insolvency procedures, following the closure of a hospital in Spremberg in 2022. To address these issues, the federal government's hospital reform, which is set to be gradually implemented by 2029, aims to alleviate financial pressures and encourage specialization within medical facilities. A transformation fund is expected to provide support, with an estimated total funding requirement of EUR50 billion, to be shared equally between state governments and statutory health insurance.

Minister Müller has called for the federal government to contribute 40 percent of the necessary funds, while suggesting that state governments and health insurance should each cover 30 percent. This financial aid is deemed crucial for hospitals as they evolve into more robust medical service centers or focus on specific areas of care. The adjustment process is projected to take between five and ten years to establish a sustainable and resilient hospital structure.

The coalition government, led by the SPD and BSW, is committed to preserving all hospital locations and enhancing local healthcare services. However, previous financial assistance measures, such as a credit program initiated by the former state government, saw no hospitals take advantage of the support last year.

As the situation develops, the emphasis remains on securing critical funding and fostering a hospital environment that can adapt to the evolving healthcare landscape in Brandenburg.