Health - Stalled hospital reform: Concern in MV about hospital stock
In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, there is growing concern about the continued existence of the hospital landscape with a total of 37 clinics. In a motion initiated by the SPD and Left Party coalition factions, the state parliament on Friday agreed with demands to the federal government to provide the hospitals with more money on a temporary basis until the planned hospital reform comes into force.
This should ensure the survival of the hospitals, which have been suffering from insufficient funding for years, especially in rural regions, it was said in the debate. They would also have to cope with higher costs for energy and staff and compensate for the consequences of lower income during the coronavirus pandemic. The clinic in Bützow was the first hospital to file for insolvency.
The SPD and Left Party motion was also passed with the votes of the Greens. The other opposition groups abstained. A motion by the CDU with specific requests to the state government did not receive a majority.
During the debate, Health Minister Stefanie Drese (SPD) complained that the planned nationwide hospital reform was still a long time coming, contrary to what had been announced. The talks between the federal and state governments were in a difficult phase. However, there was no way around the reform. "Our common goal is high-quality hospital care close to where people live," emphasized Drese. This also means maintaining all 37 locations in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. However, this requires specialization of the individual hospitals, closer cooperation and better integration of inpatient and outpatient care.
Drese reiterated her call for small clinics to also be rewarded for the costs of maintaining capacity and for a supplement to be granted for rural areas. "Payment should not be based solely on the number of cases treated," she emphasized. There are still considerable differences between the federal and state governments regarding current aid and the future law. "But we will persevere," the Minister announced. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern had already made considerable structural changes in the past. Of the former 55, 37 remain and the number of beds has been reduced from 19,000 to 10,000.
Timetable for the state parliament session with links to laws and motions
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- Despite the SPD and Left Party's efforts in the state parliament to secure temporary funding for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's hospitals ahead of the planned hospital reform, the clinic in Bützow has unfortunately already filed for insolvency due to financial struggles.
- During the debate, Health Minister Stefanie Drese (SPD) acknowledged the necessity of the planned hospital reform in addressing the insufficient funding of hospitals, particularly in rural regions, and ensuring high-quality care close to residents, with a focus on maintaining all 37 hospital locations in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
- The SPD and Left Party motion, which called for small clinics to be rewarded for maintaining capacity and for a supplement to be granted for rural areas, received support from the Greens but was met with abstention from other opposition groups.
- The CDU's motion proposing specific requests to the state government regarding the hospital reform did not gain a majority in the vote, highlighting the complexity of the issue and the need for close collaboration between federal and state governments.
- Stefanie Drese emphasized the importance of addressing the financial challenges facing hospitals, including higher costs for energy and staff and the consequences of lower income during the Coronavirus pandemic, to ensure their survival and deliver essential health care services to residents of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Source: www.stern.de
