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Patients at the DRK Clinic Neuwied: files finally ready for collection!
In the Rhein-Lahn district, 80% of the patient files from the insolvent DRK Clinic Neuwied are ready for collection. The DRK association is withdrawing from the clinical sector.
Patients at the DRK Clinic Neuwied: files finally ready for collection!
In Neuwied there is good news for many patients at the former DRK clinic: around 80 percent of their patient files are now ready for collection. The information, which was announced for the first time on Friday, June 13th by the DRK Hospital Association of Rhineland-Palatinate, comes just after a phase that left many patients with uncertainty for months. The clinic was insolvent due to deep economic difficulties and changed ownership. The pickup function made possible by these changes is a small ray of hope in an otherwise bleak situation.
The topic of insolvencies in the hospital sector is not new in Rhineland-Palatinate. The regional association of the German Red Cross (DRK) is withdrawing completely from the hospital sector, which now affects ten clinic locations that now urgently need to look for a new operator. The reason for this withdrawal is the enormous economic burden that is affecting many clinics. At the end of 2022, five locations had already filed for insolvency at the Mainz district court, a circumstance that has a severe impact on the region. Another difficult fate also falls on the DRK sponsoring company Süd-West, which had to expand insolvency proceedings to five additional specialist clinics.
The background to the crises
The financial challenges seem to never end. Over the last few years, the losses have amounted to high double-digit millions, and the company pension obligations can no longer be met. The clinics feel that they are beyond their ability to get out of this even through sensible restructuring approaches. As the kma online reports, it is not just the DRK that is being criticized, but the entire cross-sector health service appears to be affected by upheaval, while municipal clinics receive public subsidies.
The current situation is part of a larger trend in Germany. In just one year, 34 clinics have filed for bankruptcy, and experts say the number could continue to rise. Without comprehensive reforms, it is feared that up to 25 percent of hospitals could be insolvent by 2030. What is also alarming is the fact that over half of the 600 largest German clinics are in the red. The pressure on facilities is compounded by rising costs and declining patient numbers, particularly during the pandemic.
A look into the future
In view of these challenges, the federal government is planning reforms that will “de-economize” the compensation system. These reforms, which are due to come into force in 2024, aim to reduce pressure on hospitals, but can only be a first step in the right direction. The clinics, especially in rural areas, face the risk of being downgraded to lower levels of care, which could enormously jeopardize local medical care.
The DRK continues to advocate for a clear perspective for employees and institutions. The aim is to establish cooperation between the providers in order to secure the future of the affected clinics. However, the search for new operators for the closed houses shows that the path to stabilizing the healthcare sector presents further challenges.
How the situation will develop remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that the clinical sector in Germany depends on a rethink in order to ensure sustainable health care for the population. The upcoming changes and reforms will be crucial to address the current challenges.