hospitals - Jena University Hospital facing economic difficulties
Thuringia's only university hospital in Jena is facing financial struggles. Higher energy prices and wage increases have significantly increased expenses, according to the hospital after a staff meeting. However, the reimbursement for services has not kept pace. The hospital is therefore approaching the limits of its economic performance capabilities, and underfunding cannot be ruled out, it was stated. University clinics assume not only research, teaching, and patient care but also tasks that are of particular importance to the healthcare system as a whole. This includes, among other things, high-qualified emergency care, specialized medical centers, treatment of rare diseases, and specialist physician training. The hospital in Jena complains that these tasks are not adequately reflected in the current legal provisions.
Moreover, rising energy costs, far-reaching wage increases, and increasing material costs are leading to economic difficulties for many university clinics. The Jena hospital, which is in public ownership of the state, has long been able to finance a significant portion of its investment and construction financing itself and has urgently needed investments and construction projects funded on its own. However, the current development shows that this will no longer be possible in the future.
The problems and their urgency are known to the Ministry of Science. Already, initial talks have taken place with the Finance Ministry. Great efforts are being made to find a solution. A loan by the University Hospital - paired with a grant from state funds - is thinkable. However, no statement can be made at this time regarding the exact amount. Concrete steps in this direction have not yet been initiated by the University Hospital.
To the University Hospital Jena with 1400 beds for patient care belong 32 clinics and polyclinics and more than two dozen research institutes and scientific working groups with a total of nearly 7000 employees. In recent years, extensive investments have been made at the central location in Jena-Lobeda.
The financial struggles at Jena's University Hospital in Thuringia are largely due to increased energy prices and wage costs, as the hospital revealed after a staff meeting. However, the reimbursement for their services has not increased at the same pace, pushing the hospital towards its economic limits.
University clinics, including the one in Jena, play a crucial role in the healthcare system, providing high-quality emergency care, specialized medical centers, treatment of rare diseases, and specialist physician training, among other tasks. The hospital expresses concern that these responsibilities are not adequately recognized in current legal provisions.
The Finance Ministry is currently engaged in discussions with the Ministry of Science to find solutions to the economic difficulties facing the University Hospital in Jena. A potential solution could be a loan from the University Hospital, supplemented by state funds.
The Jena University Hospital, with its 1400 patient care beds, 32 clinics and polyclinics, and more than two dozen research institutes and working groups, has made significant investments in its central location in Jena-Lobeda in recent years. Despite its own funding capabilities, the hospital acknowledges that the current situation may no longer allow for self-financing of future investments and construction projects.
