Health - 530 million euros launched for hospitals
Hospitals in Lower Saxony are set to be modernized with over half a billion Euro from the state and communes. This was announced by Health Minister Andreas Philippi in Hannover on a Wednesday. Specifically, 536.5 million Euro is earmarked for 42 construction projects this year.
This represents the "historically highest investment program" for Lower Saxony's hospitals, according to the minister. Approximately every fourth hospital in the state will benefit from this. The investment program was significantly smaller in the previous year, with approximately 233 million Euro.
Central clinics as a focus
"With this mega-investment, we are supporting hospital providers in strengthening their clinics and reducing the investment backlog," said Philippi. Independent of the hospital reform in the federal government, the transformation of the Lower Saxony hospital landscape is to be initiated, the SPD politician explained.
110 Million Euro of the money is planned to flow into the construction of a central clinic in Georgsheil in the Aurich district. For the central new building of the Heidekreis Clinic in Walsrode-Soltau as well as the new central clinic in Twistringen in the Diepholz district, 50 Million Euro each is provided.
Further billions are needed
The need for investment remains great. In order to completely finance the 42 projects supported this year in the coming years, around 800 Million Euro additional is required. In addition, 2.4 Billion Euro is needed for prospectively planned construction projects that are currently being tested.
Therefore, from 2024, the state and communes want to make a total of three Billion Euro available for clinic investments. The share of the communes amounts to 40%. In addition, the state is fighting for this contribution to be awarded 2.5 Billion Euro from the Transformation Fund of the Federal Government, also spread over ten years.
Andreas Philippi, the Health Minister, announced in Hanover that Lower Saxony's hospitals will receive over half a billion Euro from the state and municipalities for 42 construction projects this year, which he described as a "historically highest investment program" for hospitals in the state. Specifically, he mentioned that 110 Million Euro will be used for the construction of a central clinic in Georgsheil in the Aurich district.
