New birth center for the Eastern Ore Mountains: Focus on healthcare!

New birth center for the Eastern Ore Mountains: Focus on healthcare!

Something is happening in the field of obstetrics in Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains. The district office has commissioned the district council to examine whether a privately run birth center can be set up in the district. This decision was made unanimously and shows that the need for action in the region is recognized. District Administrator Michael Geisler (CDU) in particular sees the need to better supply the upper part of the district, the picturesque Eastern Ore Mountains. This is particularly important as pregnant women in the area currently often have to travel long distances in emergencies.

The possible location for the new birthplace could be the city of Dippoldiswalde. This is an opportunity to bring pregnant women and their relatives closer to the necessary medical services at a crucial time. The district council also pointed out in particular that many expectant parents from Wilsdruff, Tharandt and Freital currently have to visit the maternity wards in Pirna or Dresden. In this regard, the new birth center could provide significant relief MDR reported.

Responding to the challenges in obstetrics

However, the challenges should not be underestimated. The Helios Group closed the children's and women's clinic in Freital in 2024, which exacerbated the situation. The district currently has no financial resources to re-municipalize the clinic or to operate a municipal maternity ward. A municipal birth center is also not feasible for liability reasons. However, as the district administration notes, a private association of doctors and midwives would be a sound alternative.

Regional pregnancy associations and service providers have been dissatisfied with obstetric care for years. In particular, they are looking for fundamental improvements. This issue is not just local, but is also attracting attention at the local, state and federal levels. The commitment to physiological birth has already led to various alliances to successfully pursue the national health goal of “health around birth”, such as Bifg notes.

Planning for the future

The district council has commissioned the district administration to develop concrete proposals within a year and to ask potential partners whether a private birth center in the district would make sense. This also includes discussions with mayors, clinics, potential sponsors as well as the midwives' association and the statutory health insurance association. An external company could provide advice should this become necessary.

There are currently only eight birth centers in Saxony, which contributes to the dissatisfaction caused by the situation. These locations include facilities in Delitzsch, Freiberg and Chemnitz. There were originally considerations about remunicipalizing the clinic in Freital, but these were reassessed. In this light, initiatives such as the establishment of a birth center in Dippoldiswalde are a step in the right direction.

The results of the tests and discussions should be presented by the end of the first half of 2026 at the latest. The planning will need to carefully consider the involvement of general practitioners and surgeons. In a region where both Saxon Switzerland and the Ore Mountains are particularly attractive, there is something going on. However, it will be crucial that obstetric care meets these geographical conditions and that families can be comprehensively supported.