The German Hospital Federation (DKG) is calling for increased funding to make hospitals more resilient. According to DKG board chairman Gerald Gaß, the government should have placed greater emphasis on resilience within the reform of the hospital system. He told the “Tagesspiegel” that the entire health sector must now be prepared comprehensively for crisis situations, a task the government will inevitably have to address financially.
Before the expert commission on statutory health insurance presents its findings and reform proposals, Gaß stressed that crisis‑proofness and security should become fixed components of hospital planning across all 16 federal states. “They are an essential and existential part of the national public service” he said. “We need reliability and, finally, a comprehensive societal and financially sound plan to strengthen hospital resilience”.
The DKG estimates that, in the face of cyber attacks and sabotage, roughly €2.7 billion in additional funding is required. If the measures are implemented in the ‘alliance’ scenario, the investment need would reach €4.9 billion, and up to €14 - 15 billion in a defense‑level scenario. Gaß acknowledged that these steps cannot be implemented in the short term. “Prioritisation and a clear phased plan are necessary to achieve major progress by 2027”.
