After winning the state election, the state government must be measured against the promises of the SPD election program. It states: "Comprehensive good care that combines high quality with reasonable travel distances to medical care in hospitals."
In the state government's budget retreat, however, the financing of hospitals was apparently not discussed.
According to the Deputy State Chairman of the FDP, Dr. Helmut Isringhaus: "The financing of Saarland's hospitals has so far not exactly been the preferred hobby of the health ministers. A few days ago, at the inauguration of the clinic for child and adolescent psychiatry on Sonnenberg, I witnessed how the minister was warmly thanked for the state's funding of the new construction. The state contributed 9 million euros, although it should have covered the entire costs as prescribed by the dual financing law. Where is the sponsor supposed to get the remaining millions from? Should they continue to save on staff, as has already happened with nursing staff?"
Isringhaus calls on the new Health Minister Magnus Jung to urgently review the list of planned hospital investments to determine whether they truly serve the goal of comprehensive good care. Isringhaus continues: "As long as the financing of hospitals in Saarland is so inadequate, hospitals will repeatedly be closed for financial or personnel reasons – without following a hospital plan. The corona crisis, the energy crisis, and inflation act as accelerants."
