20 million euros support: rescue for the clinics in the district of Görlitz?

20 million euros support: rescue for the clinics in the district of Görlitz?

In the district of Görlitz, the district clinics are faced with a financial turn. The district council has announced a new support package that provides up to 20 million euros by the end of 2027. This package is an answer to the financial challenges that the clinics in the region plague. Managing Director Steffen Thiele emphasizes that the clinics's own funds will not be sufficient up to the planned hospital reform in 2027. The current financial situation forces those responsible to act, because 80 percent of the German clinics write red.

The situation of health expenditure

A look beyond the regional borders shows that health expenditure in Germany in 2022 rose to a total of 498 billion euros, which corresponds to 12.8 percent of gross domestic product. Germany thus occupies third place in health expenditure worldwide, only behind the USA and Canada. These developments throw a light on the challenges in front of which the health system is in general. Statutory health insurance bears around 53 percent of the total health expenditure, with a large part of these funds flowing into hospital treatment.

In the current legislative period, a reform of the clinic landscape is in full swing. Statutory health insurance companies should contribute a total of 25 billion euros to convert the clinic landscape between 2026 and 2035. The same sum is also expected by the federal states. The AOK demands that the costs of these reforms should assume the responsibility of the federal and state governments. Financial reliefs are being sought, especially for citizens' places, since the shortfall for their care is estimated at around nine billion euros.

The future of clinics

The financial uncertainties not only present the clinic lines, but also the political landscape with challenges. The planned support package for the clinics also includes legal changes to the use of land and buildings. This is intended to help the clinics to secure funding, while the construction work for the emergency room and intensive care unit in Zittau currently rest due to financial bottlenecks. In the long run, these investments play a crucial role in putting the clinics on a stable financial basis.

The district council has also decided to leave the buildings to the clinics in hereditary lease, which facilitates funding accessibility. As Thiele notes, the need for well -planned geriatric rehabilitation is evident in order to offer older patients adequate support.

Overall, the situation of the clinics in the district of Görlitz is a reflection of a larger, nationwide problem in the health sector. With the new support package, the desired reforms and the collaboration of the various actors, it is to be hoped that the future challenges can be mastered.

For those who look at the health systems in Germany, these are exciting and worrying times. Because where health policy comes into play, the financial sustainable basis and the security of supply are often decisive.

For more information about the current developments, read our further articles on Sächsische.de, aok and bpb.de .