Erfurt. The opposition CDU parliamentary group wants to hold talks on the financing of Thuringian hospitals at the beginning of August. It responded to a with this Emergency call from Jena University Hospital due to funding problems.
After the state government rejected the demand for a quick clinical summit, the CDU will invite people to a “digital summit” on the future of Thuringian hospitals on August 5, the state parliamentary group announced in Erfurt.
The situation of the hospitals, the financial and legal obligations of the state and possible additional measures are to be discussed online with representatives of the Thuringian clinics, the association of senior hospital doctors and the health insurance companies.
Financial situation in the stationary sector
Health Minister Heike Werner plans to comment again on the situation and the financing of the clinics next week. The left-wing politician accused the opposition in the state parliament of populism in the election campaign. So far, the CDU and FDP have completely refused to participate in the hospital planning process.
Challenges caused by rising costs
CDU parliamentary group leader and top candidate Mario Voigt justified the online conference by saying that Thuringia should not “simply leave the clinics to their fate”. The problems at Jena University Hospital are just the tip of the iceberg.
“Although personnel and operating costs have increased significantly in recent years, a hospital reform that would improve the financial situation of the clinics has remained out of sight,” Voigt explained.
According to the Thuringian State Hospital Association, all hospitals are facing challenges due to rising energy and personnel costs, among other things. Like the University Hospital of Jena, other hospitals have also borne the majority of the costs of the necessary investments for many years. Other federal states have set up special programs for this, according to the association.
The state government is considering creating a guarantee program for clinics in economic difficulty due to the difficult financial situation of hospitals. The country would then be responsible for the loans that the hospitals would have to take out. (dpa)