Struggling Hospitals in Lower Saxony Cry out for Long-Overdue Investments
Hospitals lament the accumulated 3.1 billion Euro shortfall in required investments. - Medical facilities voice concern over delayed €3.1 billion investment allocation
Chairman of the Lower Saxony Hospital Association (NKG), Rainer Rempe, appeals for enhanced financial support from the red-green state government to maintain and modernize the region's hospitals. The shocking figure of a whopping 3.1 billion euros investment backlog has been brought to light.
"A vast sum is required," Rempe emphasizes, suggesting the state should channel any excess funds, beyond the presently allocated those for hospitals, towards this cause. Given the hospital reform on the horizon, Rempe believes the state will need to shoulder a part of the costs associated with reshaping the clinic landscape. Only then, political aspirations for structural change can become a reality.
Resembling a tired relic, NKG contends that an unyielding lack of investment has left many hospitals in antiquated conditions. The state, they argue, has hardly covered half of the annual requirement for years. Post the 2022 election, the government responded with a special fund in 2023, however, the investment quota remains unacceptably low, as per the hospitals.
To thrive in this modern era, annual investments of 760 million euros should ideally be the benchmark, whereas the state's funding for hospital construction currently stands at 305 million euros yearly, alongside an additional 160 million euros aimed for equipment and lease expenses.
"In numerous German hospitals, the infrastructure languishes in the past. Modernization is long overdue so that the populace can depend on quality healthcare and medical professionals can work in a contemporary setting," Helge Engelke, NKG's association director, states.
The 3.1 billion euro investment backlog in Lower Saxony's hospitals has been brewing over time due to chronic underfunding and the postponement of modernization. As the burden of improving existing facilities, upgrading medical technology, and renovating infrastructure grows, it becomes increasingly crucial for the state and private sector to collaborate in devising solutions. Proposed measures to resolve this issue include:
- Increased Investments: Greater monetary support will be allocated specifically for hospital infrastructure improvements, attempts to eliminate the backlog.
- Modernization Initiatives: An emphasis on revamping hospitals' physical infrastructures, improving energy efficiency, and updating medical technology for superior patient care.
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Encouraging partnerships between the public and private sector to fund, manage, and expedite hospital modernization projects.
- Prioritization: Hospitals are advised to prioritize urgent renovation projects and technology upgrades reshaping patient safety and care outcomes.
- Long-term Planning: Establishing long-term strategies, ensuring continuous and sustainable financing, and continuous investment in hospital infrastructure.
These collaborative efforts recognize the impending need to methodically reduce the backlog, rendering effective healthcare service delivery, and enabling Lower Saxony's hospitals to meet future healthcare challenges.
"Given the pressing need for modernization in Lower Saxony's hospitals, the state should consider investing in science and health-and-wellness sectors, such as vocational training programs for medical professionals, to ensure they are prepared to work in contemporary settings. In addition, long-term planning and increased investments in hospital infrastructure will not only help to eliminate the current 3.1 billion euro investment backlog but also prioritize urgent renovation projects and technology upgrades, ultimately leading to improved patient care and safety."
"To ensure the sustainability of hospitals in Lower Saxony, it might be beneficial for the state to collaborate with the private sector through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in financing, managing, and expediting modernization projects. These collaborative efforts can offer opportunities for investments in areas like health-and-wellness, medical-conditions, and even finance, contributing to a holistic approach in strengthening the community policy, vocational training, and overall hospital infrastructure."
