More money for rural hospitals: 79 million euros support!

More money for rural hospitals: 79 million euros support!

A fresh wind blows through the health landscape in Germany, especially in rural areas. The latest report of the Medical BLATS announces in the year 2026 proud 129 need for needs in Germany will benefit from additional financial resources. This decision is the result of an agreement between the statutory and private health insurance companies and the German hospital company (DKG).

The support of 79 million euros is not only good news for the clinics, but also a necessary step to maintain medical care in rural regions. Compared to the previous year, the grant increases by 18.8 million euros. This is intended to help ensure the nationwide health care in rural areas where patients often have to travel long journey.

Financial relief for clinics

For hospitals, there are clear requirements of how high the grants will be. A surcharge of up to 1 million euros is paid out depending on the number of specialist departments. 91 houses receive 500,000 euros, 18 houses 750,000 euros and 20 houses 1 million euros. The prerequisite for this is that these facilities provide specialist departments for internal medicine, surgery and possibly obstetrics, which benefits the patient.

The regulations also stipulate that emergency supply structures are no longer required, which reduces the requirements for grant. Newly recorded clinics in Bavaria, Hesse and Saxony-Anhalt show that the measures in these federal states are targeted to close the supply gaps.

challenges and criticism

Despite these positive developments, DKG CEO, chairman Gerald Gaß, expresses concerns. He demands a further development of the regulations, because the grants provided often did not be sufficient to cover the actual costs. The restrictive requirements for the grants are also criticized, since they do not always reflect the real conditions in rural areas.

"Health care is an essential part of the general interest", emphasizes the Federal Center for Political Education . There are fewer health supply facilities in rural regions, which makes health care difficult for the population. Long travel routes for patients and a high disease burden due to an aging population are challenges that need to be mastered.

Those responsible must develop innovative care concepts, such as the cooperation between different health professions and the use of telemedical solutions in order to make medical care in rural regions.

The introduction of security surcharges is an extensive step to support rural institutions and to ensure the nationwide health care. Above all, the increased grants could help compensate for structurally related deficits in many hospitals and thus significantly improve the quality of life for people beyond the big cities.