Klaus Holetschek, the chairman of the CSU parliamentary group in Bavaria, is calling for up to an additional 1.5 billion euros to be allocated to hospitals. Speaking to Politico’s podcast, “Berlin Playbook,” regarding ongoing negotiations about the healthcare insurance reform, Holetschek stressed the need to secure good outcomes in the final stages of these talks.
The federal states are anticipating an annual deficit in the healthcare system ranging from four to 4.5 billion euros. Consequently, Holetschek has urged for supplementary aid for the clinics, stating, “There must be at least a billion to 1.5 billion leeway for the hospitals.” He warned that without this support, there is a risk of “a cold structural change,” particularly impacting rural areas.
To finance the necessary resources, Holetschek pointed to several mechanisms, including the federal government’s increase in contributions to basic insurance and potential additional revenue from the tobacco and planned sugar taxes. While he acknowledged that these taxes are not earmarked for a specific purpose, they would provide the federal budget with the flexibility needed to free up funds for hospital care elsewhere.
In addition to hospital funding, Holetschek advocated for a “Germany Bonus” for the pharmaceutical industry. In his view, companies that conduct research and invest in Germany should receive greater support. He believes that any potential conflict this might cause with European state aid law is avoidable, calling the issue “a question of creativity.”
