- Franconia's county councils call for more help for hospitals
Representatives of Franconian districts demand more support from the federal government and the Free State for the municipal hospitals. Losses of Bavarian hospitals amounting to approximately three billion euros this year are a dramatic burden on the budgets of the districts and their municipalities, the Bavarian District Association for Middle, Upper and Lower Franconia announced.
"The districts as owners of the hospitals now need clear signals from the federal government and the Free State that they want to tackle this unprecedented crisis together," said the district chairmen, Jürgen Ludwig (CSU, Middle Franconia), Oliver Bär (CSU, Upper Franconia), and Wilhelm Schneider, Landrat of Haßberge (CSU, Lower Franconia), who represent 25 districts in Franconia. From the perspective of the Landrats, the municipal carriers are caught between legal obligations, citizens' wishes, staff shortages, financial difficulties, and political pressures. The Free State should therefore quickly address emergency care, hospital planning, and better basic funding. "The current data collection and organization of regional discussions by the Free State of Bavaria is far from sufficient," said Landrat Ludwig. The crisis cannot be left to run its course in Bavaria with reference to the federal government.
The municipal politicians are also concerned that more non-profit providers may close large hospitals or transfer them to independent cities and districts. "We are not asking the Free State to take over the operating costs," said Landrat Schneider. However, the state must abandon its restraint on this important and politically sensitive issue for citizens and municipalities.
The Municipal politicians are worried that non-profit providers might close or transfer large hospitals to independent cities and districts. To alleviate the financial burden on Franconian districts, the state needs to show more commitment to addressing emergency care, hospital planning, and basic funding.
