The service union Verdi has sharply criticized the federal government’s proposed cutbacks across the healthcare system. Sylvia Bühler, a member of the union’s national board, stated on Monday that the planned reductions unfairly target insured individuals, people requiring care, and dedicated healthcare employees. The union warned that the staff in both general and elderly care would refuse to accept this “attack on their working and living conditions”.
Bühler focused her criticism on the bill designed to reform health insurance, as well as broader proposed cuts to long-term care insurance. According to her, the proposed reduction package affects both care recipients and care workers, rather than ensuring sustainable and solidary funding for the system. She specifically mentioned that the Federal Minister of Health, Nina Warken (CDU), had suggested less subsidies for residents and degraded staffing standards within nursing homes. Furthermore, Bühler objected to the federal government for funding services not tied directly to insurance, such as the pension benefits for family caregivers, using general tax revenue.
Regarding statutory health insurance, a draft law already exists that mandates higher patient co-payments, imposes service limitations on insured persons, and predicts poorer reimbursement mechanisms for rate increases and in-hospital care. Bühler summarized this by calling the proposals a clear “challenge” that hospital employees are prepared to meet with a strong response. She added that preparations for clinical protests are already underway.