Wittstock in turmoil: First round table to save the hospital!

Wittstock in turmoil: First round table to save the hospital!

The first round table on the future of healthcare took place on Thursday in Wittstock, where the medical landscape is at stake. The group was well attended with 37 decision-makers from health, politics and administration. Representatives of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the clinic management company (KMG) and the “Wittstock shows face” action group discussed the possibilities of keeping the hospital site alive after 2027. The reason for these discussions is the state parliament's decision the day before to close the KMG clinic in Wittstock on January 1, 2027. This is reported by the Märkische Allgemeine.

The closure is related to the upcoming hospital reform, which will come into force from 2027. The KMG has already announced plans to relocate the gastroenterology and cardiology departments to Pritzwalk. According to those responsible, this measure is necessary because the clinic cannot meet the new requirements. But the decision is met with widespread opposition: In Wittstock, citizens protested, for example in front of the Potsdam state parliament, where around 50 demonstrators protested against the closure of their clinic, which is considered important for the care of heart patients.

Political reactions and civil protests

The vote in the state parliament did not bring any positive news for those in favor of preserving the clinic: applications from the CDU and AfD to save it were rejected, while a motion for a resolution from the SPD and BSW to secure health care in Brandenburg was accepted. “We are facing a serious problem here,” explains Björn Schäfer, chairman of the “Wittstock shows face” campaign group and calls for an exception for the clinic. However, this demand is met with skepticism: SPD parliamentary group leader Björn Lüttmann made it clear that Wittstock will not receive an exemption because the clinic is not listed as a “safety hospital”. A plan to establish a polyclinic for outpatient care in Wittstock is in the works, but the opposition is concerned about medical care in the region if inpatient operations cease.

Meanwhile, Mayor Philipp Wacker announced that he would create a catalog of demands that emphasizes the need for 24-hour emergency care. In this phase, the need for an “outpatient” solution for cardiac care becomes apparent. It also shows that the KMG has not yet presented a viable concept for future care, which is further fueling concerns among the population.

Future prospects

The coming period will be crucial for healthcare in Wittstock. In the long term, a specialist medical center could be built in the city, possibly in the old cloth factory at the Dosseteich. This would be seen as a step in the right direction, even if the uncertainties of the current situation are not easy to overcome. Transparent communication about ongoing changes in healthcare is therefore crucial to promote citizen trust. The Brandenburg Ministry of Health has already emphasized that everyone involved should be included in the planning.

A next round table to discuss the way forward is scheduled for November this year. It remains to be seen how those responsible will meet the coming challenges and whether it will be possible to maintain medical care in the region.

It is clear that many eyes are on Wittstock, where the conflict over the closure of the clinic and the associated gaps in care could become a central challenge for politics and health care in Brandenburg.