High costs burden Saxony's hospitals

Rising prices are forcing hospitals in Saxony to think more about cutting costs in day-to-day hospital operations. Although there are no cost-cutting measures at the expense of patients, the commercial director of Dresden University Hospital, Frank Ohi, said in a survey conducted by the German Press Agency. "Nevertheless, of course the cost pressure is high and we are also reacting." For example, he said, equivalent products are being sought for patient catering - always in compliance with the relevant certification.

"However, there is greater potential in food purchasing for the kitchen and patient catering in the optimization of procurement costs. Here we arrange among other things the logistics expenditures more efficiently, by bundling orders still further." Nevertheless, the hospital is not pursuing a tough cost-cutting strategy. For the future ability also further strategically one invests.

For sensation in January newspaper reports had provided, according to which a hospital operator in Hamburg legally insured only margarine instead of butter should be served. Accordingly, the group hoped to save 330,000 euros annually at its sites in the Hanseatic city.

For Dresden University Hospital, the switch to margarine would have brought about 50,000 euros, it was said. However, the butter prices went meanwhile again back and thus also the savings potential sank.

"Like all hospitals so also our house loads the current mixture of inflation, high energy prices, lack of specialists, the current collective bargaining and their financial consequences as well as overcoming the aftermath of the Corona pandemic," said a spokeswoman of the Chemnitz hospital. "Against this backdrop, we will need support, as all hospitals do, while at the same time identifying potential savings in-house ourselves. This is the process we are in right now." In the end, the measures would be selected that seem most sensible and suitable.

"The current energy crisis affects everyone equally and, of course, the order of the day is to deal carefully with resources," said the spokeswoman for Klinikum Sankt Georg in Leipzig, Manuela Powollik. "On the part of our management, however, there is no instruction to save on service in terms of food supply, hygiene and cleaning towards our patients."

Because of the dynamic cost developments in all areas, a continuous review of the costs incurred and their alternatives is necessary, said the spokeswoman of the Saxony Hospital Association, Melissa Rößler.