Four million Patients Treated in NRW Hospitals Last Year, with an Average Cost of 6,521 Euros per Case
The State Statistical Office (IT.NRW) revealed that around 4.1 million individuals received full inpatient care in North Rhine-Westphalia's 333 hospitals in 2022. The average cost per treatment case was 6,521 euros, leading to a per capita cost increase of 286 euros or 4.6%.
The overall hospital costs in North Rhine-Westphalia skyrocketed by 4.7% to approximately 31.4 billion euros in 2022. Inpatient hospital care accounted for around 26.7 billion euros, while personnel costs accounted for 61.4% of the total expenditure, amounting to 19.3 billion euros. Material costs accounted for more than a third (37.1%) of the total costs.
The rise in per capita hospital costs emphasizes the significance of maintaining health services within North Rhine-Westphalia's hospitals. Regular health check-ups and preventative care play a crucial role in maintaining good health and minimizing potential future hospitalizations.
Insights from Enrichment Data:
While the sources do not provide direct details on the total costs and per capita costs for North Rhine-Westphalia's clinics in 2022, they offer some context regarding healthcare costs in Germany and North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Inflation - The inflation rate in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, rose by 2% year-on-year in January 2025, indicating a general trend of increasing expenses due to inflation, which may have impacted hospital care costs.
- Historical Costs - In 1999, the average monthly expense for patients in nursing home care, including both healthcare services and room and board, was approximately 2,000 euros. This suggests that costs likely increased over time due to inflation and other factors.
Various factors contribute to healthcare costs, including inflation, the complexity of medical treatments, workforce and infrastructure expansion, and advanced care planning and early palliative care.
These insights offer a broader understanding of the trends and influences on healthcare costs in North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany, while the base article provides specific details on the cost of hospital care in 2022.
