Urgent Need for Clarity on Hospital Financial Aid

The chairperson of the Health Ministers' Conference, Katharina Schenk from Thuringia, has called for immediate clarity regarding the promised emergency financial aid for hospitals. She emphasized the need for specifics on how and when these funds will be disbursed, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

During coalition negotiations, the CDU and SPD agreed to compensate hospitals for the inflation-driven operating cost increases incurred in 2022 and 2023. Schenk expressed her belief that the new Federal Health Minister, Nina Warken, understands the gravity of the current situation, stating that the emergency aid is vital for the survival of the hospitals.

The financial strain caused by inflation has pushed numerous hospitals into precarious financial positions following the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schenk warned that if hospitals begin to perceive the financial assistance as uncertain, they may resort to layoffs, especially in East Germany, where there is a significant shortage of skilled workers. She further stressed the importance of preventing uncontrolled insolvencies in hospitals prior to the implementation of the government's hospital reform scheduled for January 2027.

A spokesperson for the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds indicated that additional funding for hospitals could lead to increased pressure on health insurance contributions. He advised against further increases in contributions, noting that hospitals are already receiving over 100 billion euros annually from contributors.

Gerald Gaß, Chairman of the German Hospital Association, underscored the urgent necessity of the emergency aid, pointing out that hospitals have yet to receive compensation for price increases due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He advocated for a comprehensive deregulation strategy, suggesting that a bureaucratic reduction program could serve as a cost-free stimulus for the economy, ultimately enhancing care and lowering expenses.

The Health Ministers' Conference of the federal states is set to begin on Wednesday in Weimar, with Thuringia presiding over the event. The new Federal Minister, Warken, is expected to participate in the discussions.