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Clinic madness in Wittstock: Mayor fights to preserve it!
Wittstock's hospital will close in 2026 due to new requirements. Mayor Wacker is fighting to keep the clinic.
Clinic madness in Wittstock: Mayor fights to preserve it!
In Wittstock, a city that is often overshadowed by larger metropolises, there is a risk of a drastic loss in the area of health care: the hospital there is scheduled to close at the end of 2026 rbb24 reported. The operator KMG justified the closure with non-compliance with the new minimum requirements of the hospital reform.
Mayor Philipp Wacker (CDU) is sounding the alarm and is vehemently committed to preserving the clinic. Posters at the town hall show the population's concern and demand that the hospital not be closed. In an interview, Wacker explains that he hopes for a possible exemption from KMG if a new draft law presented by the Federal Ministry of Health is voted on.
The challenges of hospital reform
The proposed regulations are intended to enable states to allow exceptions when assigning service groups to hospitals. Wacker sees this as an opportunity to preserve at least part of the local healthcare offering. However, KMG board member Stefan Eschmann speaks clearly: He says that the current legal assessment remains unchanged. The hospital in Wittstock only has one cardiology and one internal medicine department, which the social services consider to be inadequate.
Part of the cardiology department could be relocated to Pritzwalk, where the conditions for good medical care are met. There are already areas such as radiology, intensive care medicine and vascular surgery. If no new offer is created in Pritzwalk by the end of 2026, the Wittstock Hospital could also have an expiring offer, which will only increase the concerns of residents.
Demonstrations and political discussions
To show that citizens stand behind their hospital, a demonstration is planned for next Tuesday. Mayor Wacker also wants to talk to federal politicians about protecting medical care in rural areas. A round table meeting of all those involved is scheduled for September to discuss the situation and explore possible alternatives.
The pressure on decision-makers is growing; Residents are not amused at the suggestion that they may be left without this important facility. It is time to set the right course, because one thing is clear: medical care in rural areas is of immense importance.
So it remains to be hoped that the voice of the population will be heard and that the Wittstock hospital can perhaps be saved after all - after all, health is at stake and the people of Wittstock deserve appropriate medical care.