The current price increases do not stop at clinics either. Politicians are responding with an aid package. But that’s far from enough, says hospital boss Gass. Around 8.5 billion euros would be missing by the end of 2023. He sees some hospitals facing emergencies.
The clinics have shown alarm at the planned implementation of the aid program for the hospitals and have called for improvements. “We urge the Federal Minister of Health to be guided by his own statement that no hospital should be in an economic emergency because of inflation or increased energy prices,” said the head of the German Hospital Society (DKG), Gerald Gass, the editorial network Germany (RND). The Ministry of Health’s plan for the aid package was “absolutely disappointing,” he said. “We also call on the federal states to intervene and to influence the federal government so that the hospitals must be given noticeable support.”
In addition to the energy price brakes, the federal government is providing six billion euros to support the clinics over the next two years. According to the draft for the financial aid, 4.5 billion euros are earmarked for the higher energy prices in the clinics. 1.5 billion euros are planned for energy price-related cost increases in hospitals, which arise from outsourced services such as laundries.
According to DKG boss Gass, the hospitals are recording a total of 15 billion euros for the years 2022 and 2023, which cannot be refinanced due to the sharp rise in prices. “Around 10 billion of this is actually attributable to general inflation, which is reflected, for example, in massively increased prices for medical and consumer products. For these 10 billion euros in additional expenditure, the hospitals are now receiving 1.5 billion as compensation. This huge financing gap remains there is also the risk of bankruptcy for many hospitals,” he warned.