Clinics in danger: Things cannot continue like this in the health system!

Clinics in danger: Things cannot continue like this in the health system!

Today, November 5, 2025, the healthcare system in Germany is once again drawing attention. In a recent survey of viewers, worrying opinions were expressed. Loud MDR Many people feel insecure about the situation in the healthcare system due to the sharp increase in healthcare costs and are demanding that clinics should be run in public hands and not by private operators.

There is agreement that something has to change. Ulrich Siegmund, the health policy spokesman for the AfD parliamentary group, says that in some areas it shouldn't just be about money. “A hospital has to help people,” says Siegmund. At the same time, he criticizes the “unnecessary spending” on various projects, especially financial aid for Ukraine. Tobias Krull from the CDU sees the problem differently. He argues that more money alone is not enough to save the clinics. Clear words that point to a larger, structural problem.

The facts

The situation in German hospitals is serious. The capacity utilization of the facilities is currently almost 70 percent. A report shows that the country has 2,000 to 4,000 beds too many to operate economically. Despite the closure of many clinics in recent years, it appears as if the number of beds remains high, while at the same time fewer people are going to the clinics than before. This raises the question: How can the system be saved in the long term?

From an economic perspective, the topic of health is becoming increasingly important in Germany. In 2022, Germany spent an impressive 498 billion euros on the healthcare system, which corresponds to a per capita amount of 5,939 euros. This accounts for approximately 12.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and places Germany third in the world, behind the United States and Canada. These trends can not only be explained by demographic change and medical advances, but have also been reinforced by the corona pandemic.

Financing health expenditure

• 53% der Gesundheitsausgaben entfielen auf die gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (GKV).
• 2022 trugen Sozialversicherungsträger über zwei Drittel der Ausgaben.
• Öffentliche Haushalte machten 9,7% der Gesundheitsausgaben aus, im Vergleich zu 4,4% im Jahr 2019.
• Die GKV selbst hat im Jahr 2022 Ausgaben von knapp 289 Milliarden Euro verzeichnet.
• Die größten Posten der GKV-Ausgaben sind Krankenhausbehandlungen (32,1%) und Arzneimittelversorgung (17,8%).

The principle of solidarity applies to statutory health insurance, which means that all insured persons bear the costs together. Since 2004, funding has been increased by a tax-financed federal grant to ensure fair distribution and relief.

In the public debate there are always discussions about fairness deficits in the health insurance system. The introduction of citizens' insurance is proposed to ensure common health insurance for everyone. Critics of this idea fear that private health insurance (PKV) represents important financial relief for the GKV. Currently, around 74 million people are insured under statutory health insurance and around 9 million under private health insurance, with both systems facing major challenges.

The German healthcare system is at a crucial point. The needs of the population must be taken seriously and balanced with an innovative and effective financing system to ensure the quality and availability of medical care. We can only hope that those responsible will soon take the necessary steps to regain the trust of citizens.