KMG closes hospital in Wittstock: protests and concerns about care!

KMG closes hospital in Wittstock: protests and concerns about care!

There are currently worrying developments in the healthcare system in Brandenburg, which primarily affect the region around Wittstock. The hospital group KMG has announced that it will close its hospital in Wittstock on January 1, 2027. This decision was announced to employees today during a company meeting Medical Journal reported. The closure is a direct result of the hospital reform, as Wittstock no longer meets the structural requirements.

The affected disciplines, cardiology and gastroenterology, are to be relocated to Pritzwalk - a place that is only 24 kilometers away. Although KMG emphasizes the indispensability of local health services, questions remain unanswered about the future of outpatient care in Wittstock; relevant discussions are still ongoing.

Political reactions and concerns of the population

Brandenburg's Health Minister, Britta Müller, expresses concern about the announced closure and emphasizes the need to maintain hospital locations as health centers. “We need to ensure alternative care options to close the gaps in inpatient care,” she is quoted as saying. The Brandenburg Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians has also expressed concerns about possible short-term supply bottlenecks.

Politicians like CDU parliamentary group leader Jan Redmann are calling on the state government to act quickly to guarantee medical care in the future. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Left, Sebastian Walter, warned of serious threats to the region's security of supply. Mayor Philipp Wacker also announced protests against the closure and stands by the concerned citizens.

The context of hospital reform

The recently announced changes have their origins in the comprehensive hospital reform, which aims to create needs-based healthcare solutions and increase citizen trust. This reform also includes measures to promote people's sense of security and emotional connection to local hospitals. Transparent communication is crucial in order to reduce fears and uncertainties mgs.brandenburg.de reported.

In order to effectively implement the reform, regional conferences were held in the individual care areas, in which various actors such as hospital operators and statutory health insurance associations took part. These dialogue forums took place in 2024 to discuss outpatient and inpatient capacities. The next big round, the area conferences, is planned for the fourth quarter of 2025 and is intended to provide further input into the plan development process.

Although the reform has good intentions, the health of the population is at stake. The coming months will show how the situation will develop and whether it will be possible to address the concerns of citizens in the region.