Hospital deficits escalating towards billions

In Baden-Württemberg, the financial situation of hospitals has become a pressing concern, with a deficit of over one billion euros reported for the first time this year. Joachim Walter, the president of the district council and Tübingen district administrator, has added his voice to the call for significant financial support to prevent hospital closures.

The deficit, based on a survey by the Baden-Württemberg Hospital Association (BWKG), has now exceeded 2.6 billion euros, including that from the past two years. Heiner Scheffold, the chairman of BWKG, has stated that this financial crisis is a result of insufficient coverage of operating costs by the federal government.

The BWKG, an umbrella organization for hundreds of carriers with hospitals, preventive and rehabilitation facilities, and nursing homes, has demanded billions in funds from the approved special fund for infrastructure. Scheffold also mentioned that many hospitals are currently queuing up for these funds.

The districts in Baden-Württemberg are expected to provide around 770 million euros in subsidies for their hospitals this year. However, since 2023, the total support payments from districts for their hospitals have exceeded two billion euros.

The federal government is responsible for covering a large part of a hospital's ongoing expenses, such as staff salaries, medication costs, utilities, and repairs and catering. Yet, the losses of private, non-profit, and public hospitals are increasing year by year, with at least 73% of hospitals in the state currently operating at a loss.

Baden-Württemberg's health minister, Manne Lucha (Greens), has called for a "reform of the reform" to prevent an uncontrolled decline in hospitals. Lucha, who is also the Minister for Social Affairs, Health and Integration, has influenced the situation by supporting projects like the pilot project "Televisite" that aim to improve medical care access and efficiency.

However, Walter has repeatedly criticized the federal government for not adequately covering hospital operating costs. He believes the federal government is more responsible for the financial situation than the state.

Despite the urgency of the situation, the article does not provide information on the specific cities or districts that may have fewer investments due to the hospital deficits. The BWKG has not made any statements about specific cities or districts that may have fewer investments due to hospital deficits.

As the financial crisis deepens, the need for immediate action to support Baden-Württemberg's hospitals becomes increasingly apparent. The hope is that both the federal and state governments will provide the necessary financial support to prevent financial collapse and hospital closures.