Concerns regarding potential shortages of medical consumables are increasing within Germany’s hospital care system.
According to the medical wholesaler Medika, discussions with manufacturers in China are proving challenging. The company reports that delivery commitments are increasingly conditional, and full orders are sometimes only partially accepted. Furthermore, suppliers are no longer guaranteeing increased stock simply because a hospital has placed a larger order.
While the situation in hospitals is currently stable-partially due to supplies having been contractually secured well in advance-the warning signs are visible. The Harzklinikum, for example, is currently maintaining sufficient supplies of single-use gloves, protective gowns, operating room gowns, non-woven fabrics, and drains, largely because these items were contracted for well into the autumn of 2025.
However, officials warn that the situation will become critical if new orders must be placed by June at the latest. If this timeline is hit, the potential for supplies to be rationed, similar to what occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, is cited as a significant risk.
