Lauterbach: Chemnitz health region a role model nationwide

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) believes that the Chemnitz region is well positioned with regard to the upcoming hospital reform. "What is being done here is exemplary for the whole of Germany," he emphasized during a visit to Chemnitz Hospital with regard to the model project Health Region Southwest Saxony. Nineteen hospitals in the region are participating in this project in order to network more closely and work together more closely. At the same time, Lauterbach promised to take the special needs of the eastern federal states into account in the hospital reform.

His Saxon counterpart Petra Köpping (SPD) once again urged this. In Saxony, the number of hospital locations had already been reduced from more than 130 to 76. These must be preserved, Köpping emphasized. However, many clinics are struggling with high deficits. Lauterbach also spoke of chronic deficits, which the reform is intended to remedy. According to him, salary increases for clinics this year, for example, will already be compensated retroactively. The whole thing will also lead to higher health insurance contributions, he explained, without giving an exact figure.

Schaper: Clinic deficits are a political failure

Left-wing state leader Susanne Schaper spoke of political failure with regard to the red figures of many hospitals. The employees and patients would have to pay for this. "This is an indictment!" New collaborations such as the Southwest Saxony Health Region are an important step. However, it must be ensured that all locations are retained - at least as a medical health center along the lines of the former polyclinics, explained Schaper.

Lauterbach's visit to Chemnitz was also accompanied by harsh criticism from pharmacists in Saxony. The supply of medicines close to home is dramatically underfunded, criticized Thomas Dittrich, Chairman of the Saxon Pharmacists' Association. Pharmacies are facing an enormous increase in expenditure - with stagnating fees. Many pharmacies are in financial difficulties. In the first half of the year, 17 more pharmacies in Saxony closed. Their number is now well below 900.

New 100 million euro building at Chemnitz Hospital

On Tuesday evening, Lauterbach wanted to open a new 100 million euro building at Chemnitz Hospital. Not only has a new operating theater been created, but several hospital departments are also to be concentrated at the Flemmingstraße site. Chemnitz Hospital is one of the three maximum care hospitals in Saxony and one of the largest municipally-run hospitals in Germany. With more than 1,700 beds and around 7,100 employees, it treated around 67,300 inpatients and day-case patients in 2023, with a further 75,000 outpatients. The annual turnover amounted to around 600 million euros.