A growing chorus of concern is emerging regarding the nationwide hospital atlas, previously introduced by former Health Minister Karl Lauterbach. In a joint letter addressed to his successor, Nina Warken, key organizations representing physicians, health insurers and hospitals are calling for its cessation. The letter, reported by the Rheinische Post, argues that the atlas has failed to fulfill its stated objective of providing comprehensive and impartial information to the public.
The signatories – Klaus Reinhardt, President of the Federal Medical Association; Josef Hecken, Chairman of the Joint Federal Committee (GBA); and Gerald Gaß, Chairman of the German Hospital Federation – express concerns that the atlas’s lack of substantive content, coupled with the significant resources it consumes, ultimately disadvantages patients and taxpayers.
The letter’s authors sharply criticize the original conception of the atlas. They contend that it was controversial from its inception, suggesting it served political objectives beyond patient information, specifically pointing to the expansion of data collection from hospitals without demonstrable benefit justifying the effort.
Furthermore, the organizations raise concerns about the operational costs associated with the commissioned Institute for Quality Assurance and Transparency in Healthcare (IQTIG), suggesting these expenses are diverting resources away from crucial quality assurance initiatives.
Instead of the current atlas, the signatories are promoting the “German Hospital Directory” a resource developed by the sector itself, as a viable alternative. They suggest this directory could be expanded to include information on hospital certifications and that an independent advisory board could be established. The letter urges Warken to consider integrating these proposed solutions into her planning for the future of the national hospital atlas.