The debate over Germany’s healthcare system restructuring has gained new momentum as prominent economists endorse the government’s push to consolidate hospital networks.
Dorothea Siems, chief economist at WELT, has publicly backed Health Minister Karl Lauterbach’s proposals, arguing that reducing the number of hospital facilities would not compromise care standards.
Instead, she contends that concentrating medical staff at larger, better-equipped sites would improve efficiency and address ongoing staffing shortages.
This endorsement comes amid fierce opposition from the healthcare sector.
The Deutsche Krankenhausgesellschaft (DKG), Germany’s leading hospital association, has warned that the proposed reforms could lead to the dismissal of up to 140,000 employees across the country.
The association argues that the government’s plan threatens the stability of the healthcare workforce and could disrupt patient care in rural areas.