The proposed austerity measures from Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) aimed at stabilizing health insurance contributions are drawing fierce criticism, with the Left party now calling for a state-backed guarantee for insolvent hospitals. The Left’s co-leader, Ines Schwerdtner, denounced Warken’s stabilization package as a “draining program” for the hospital sector, arguing it threatens essential healthcare access, particularly in rural areas.
Warken’s Wednesday announcement outlined cost-cutting measures that will disproportionately impact hospitals. The German Association of Districts has already voiced concerns about the potential for widespread hospital closures, especially in underserved regions. The prospect of dwindling hospital networks raises fears of increased patient travel distances and extended wait times for treatment.
Schwerdtner emphasized that each hospital closure directly impacts patient care, exacerbating existing pressures on remaining facilities. She contends Warken’s plans represent a fundamental shift away from ensuring adequate healthcare provision, placing undue burdens on insured individuals. The Left is advocating for a radical departure from market-driven healthcare models, proposing that hospitals be “liberated from the constraints of the market and secured as a basic provision for the population”. This would involve a state guarantee to facilitate takeovers of financially struggling hospitals, preventing closure and maintaining vital services.
Beyond hospital guarantees, Schwerdtner is pushing for a significant overhaul of the health insurance funding model. She is calling for a broadened contribution base encompassing all income streams, including salary, consulting fees, rent, royalties and capital gains. Critically, she proposes abolishing the current earnings threshold for contributions, setting it initially at €15,000 per month and ultimately removing it entirely. This would compel higher earners to contribute their fair share, potentially allowing for reductions in overall insurance contributions and benefiting middle-income earners within a system built on solidarity. While proponents of the current system might argue for individual responsibility, Schwerdtner’s pitch frames the issue as a matter of societal obligation and equitable access to healthcare.