- Lauterbach: Chemnitz health region nationwide model
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) considers the Chemnitz region well-positioned with regard to the upcoming hospital reform. "What is being done here is exemplary for the whole of Germany," he emphasized during a visit to Chemnitz Clinic, referring to the model project "Health Region Southwest Saxony." Nineteen hospitals in the region are involved in this project to strengthen their networks and collaborate more closely. At the same time, Lauterbach promised to consider the special needs of the eastern federal states in the hospital reform.
Saxony's Health Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) again emphasized the need to preserve the existing number of hospital sites in Saxony, which has already been reduced from over 130 to 76. However, many clinics are struggling with high deficits. Lauterbach also spoke of chronic deficits that the reform aims to address. He stated that wage increases for clinics will be retroactively reimbursed this year, but this will also lead to higher health insurance contributions, without specifying an exact figure.
Schaper: Clinic deficits are a political failure
Susanne Schaper, the Left Party's state chairwoman, described the financial difficulties of many hospitals as a political failure. Employees and patients are bearing the brunt of this, she said. "This is a poor showing!" New cooperations like the Health Region Southwest Saxony are an important step, but it must be ensured that all sites are maintained, at least as Medical Health Centers, she explained.
Lauterbach's visit to Chemnitz was also met with sharp criticism from Saxon pharmacists. The local pharmaceutical supply is severely underfunded, criticized Thomas Dittrich, chairman of the Saxon Pharmacists' Association. Pharmacies are facing a significant increase in costs with stagnant remuneration, leading many to be in a precarious financial situation. In the first half of the year, 17 more pharmacies in Saxony closed, bringing the total number below 900.
100 million new building at Chemnitz Clinic
On Tuesday evening, Lauterbach opened a new building at Chemnitz Clinic worth around 100 million euros. The new building not only houses a new operating area but also concentrates several clinic departments at the Flemmingstraße site. Chemnitz Clinic is one of the three maximum care providers in Saxony and one of the largest hospitals under municipal ownership nationwide. In 2023, it treated around 67,300 patients on an inpatient and day-care basis and around 75,000 outpatients. The annual turnover was around 600 million euros.
The new building at Chemnitz Clinic, worth around 100 million euros, includes a new operating area and concentrates several clinic departments, highlighting the hospital's role as a major healthcare provider. Despite this investment, Susanne Schaper, of the Left Party, emphasizes the need to preserve existing hospital sites, including Chemnitz Clinic, at least as Medical Health Centers.
