Gerald Gaß, the chairman of the German Hospital Association (DKG), has criticized the insufficient investment by the federal states in heat protection measures for hospitals in light of the recent extreme temperatures. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” on Monday, Gaß stressed that the current heatwave starkly reveals past shortcomings in investment and highlighted the need for hospitals to be structurally funded differently.
He noted that for decades, the states have failed to adequately meet their commitment to financial investment funding. This structural underfunding, which applies not only to capital investments but also to operational costs, is now compounding the difficulties caused by the federal government’s austerity package, a measure that, according to the DKG chief, is finally squeezing life out of many clinics.
Gaß emphasized that under these conditions, no hospital can independently manage the critically necessary investments in air conditioning for patient rooms or other heat protection measures. He asserted that anyone serious about heat action plans and the fight against climate change must finally equip hospitals and nursing facilities with adequate funding. This funding is essential to ensure patient safety and to provide secure working conditions for employees, even during extreme heat.
