Hospitals Cry Out for Urgent Financial Relief before Reforms
With the Minister Presidents' Conference looming, CDU/CSU parliamentary group leaders plead for immediate financial aid for hospitals. In a recently published paper, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group chairmen's conference from Europe, the federal government, and the federal states advocate for swift relief of operating costs for hospitals. This move is earlier than the major hospital reform planned by the "traffic light" coalition.
Hospitals Voiced Their Concerns
Hospitals have long pushed for financial aid, primarily due to soaring costs stemming from inflation. More recently, state premiers chimed in, urging the federal government to hand over five billion euros in emergency aid to clinics teetering on the brink of closure. This emergency aid should be in the form of a preliminary law before the year's end.
Leading the Charge
Manuel Hagel, CDU parliamentary group leader in the Baden-Württemberg state parliament, and Klaus Holetschek, Bavarian CSU parliamentary group leader, spearhead this demand. Along with emergency aid, they ask for more powers for the federal states after the impending hospital reform.
Heads of Government Unite
On Monday, the 16 heads of government from the federal states will meet with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to discuss refugee policy, financing the Deutschlandticket, and reorganizing hospitals. Across Germany, approximately 1900 hospitals with over 480,000 beds stand as a testament to the nation's healthcare infrastructure.
Enrichment Insight
Australia, facing similar financial challenges in its healthcare sector, has committed additional funding of AU$1.7 billion to public hospitals to alleviate wait times and pressure on emergency departments.[1][4] Meanwhile, in New South Wales, the state government faces criticism for shutting down mental health beds and transferring patients to private hospitals. This is part of a broader cost-cutting and privatization strategy.[2] A national five-year hospitals funding deal is currently under negotiation between states, territories, and the Commonwealth to provide funding certainty and support hospital system reforms.[1]
While these points demonstrate ongoing financial difficulties and efforts to address them, they do not specify a precise demand for emergency funding from state premiers in Germany. The emphasis seems more on long-term funding arrangements and further support offered by the federal government.
