Consumer advocates are urging Germany’s Minister of Health, Nina Warken, to reconsider plans to dismantle the Federal Hospital Atlas. Thomas Moormann, head of health and care at the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (VZBV), cautioned that eliminating the Atlas would be detrimental to patients.
The argument centers on the need for greater transparency within the German healthcare system. Moormann emphasized that the Atlas represents a positive step towards this goal, despite requiring further development to fully realize its potential. The ultimate aim is to empower patients to select hospitals offering the highest quality care for specific procedures.
He dismissed the German Hospital Society’s (DKG) hospital directory as an inadequate alternative, citing concerns about its usability and independence.
Without the Federal Hospital Atlas, patients risk navigating a complex and unhelpful system, according to Moormann. He asserted that an independent, transparent and user-friendly Atlas could significantly improve healthcare delivery and form a core component of successful hospital reform.
The Atlas, launched in May 2024 under the previous Minister of Health, Karl Lauterbach (SPD), was designed to enhance transparency regarding the services provided by hospitals across the country.
