The collapse of the traffic light coalition has far-reaching consequences for the German healthcare system, particularly for several important legislative projects and reforms.
Hospital Reform
The hospital reform, already passed by the Bundestag, is now on the brink. Without its implementation, hundreds of hospitals risk insolvency in the next two years[1]. The reform stipulates that clinics should receive 60 percent of their remuneration for maintaining services in the future, which would reduce the pressure to increase case numbers[6]. Although the reform does not require approval, the Bundesrat could delay or block it through a mediation committee[1].
Endangered Legislative Projects
Several key legislative initiatives face potential demise[5]:
– The Healthcare Supply Strengthening Act
– The Emergency Reform
– The Digital Agency Act
– The Act to Strengthen Heart Health
– The Act to Strengthen Public Health
Impact on Nursing Care
The consequences for the nursing care sector are particularly dramatic. The planned Nursing Competence Act, which provides for greater powers of action for nursing staff, threatens to fail[6]. The President of the German Nursing Council, Christine Vogler, calls the coalition collapse a "catastrophe for nursing care" and warns of an impending care crisis[1].
Political Situation
The FDP has already announced that there will be no further cooperation on legislative projects in the healthcare sector[5]. The Union considers the legislative period in healthcare to be over and rejects project-based cooperation[5]. Federal Minister of Health Lauterbach remains optimistic despite the situation and intends to try to implement key reforms[1].
Supply Situation
The situation is particularly critical for pharmacy supply. Since the beginning of the traffic light coalition, the number of pharmacies has decreased from 18,461 to 17,187[6]. Without swift political action, a further thinning of supply threatens[6].
The coming months will show whether it is possible to pass the most important reforms before the new elections. Otherwise, the German healthcare system faces significant structural problems and supply bottlenecks.
Sources:
[1] Despite the collapse of the traffic light coalition: Lauterbach wants to push through hospital reform anyway… https://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/koalitionsbruch-katastrophe-fuer-die-pflege-trotz-ampel-aus-lauterbach-will-krankenhausreform-noch-durchsetzen_id_260460240.html
[2] What happens after the collapse of the traffic light coalition? | MDR.DE https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/politik/bruch-ampel-koalition-folgen-ablauf-neuwahlen-100.html
[3] Long-term care insurance under pressure: Lauterbach's long-term care reform is also in danger of failing due to the collapse of the traffic light coalition… https://www.fr.de/wirtschaft/scheitert-durch-ampel-aus-auch-lauterbachs-pflegereform-pflegeversicherung-druck-zahlen-rote-zr-93399589.html
[4] Coalition break: Important legislative projects must not be lost now! https://www.presseportal.de/pm/169285/5904413
[5] All health laws are on the brink after the coalition break https://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichten/155542/Alle-Gesundheitsgesetze-stehen-nach-Koalitionsbruch-auf-der-Kippe
[6] Coalition break causes worry lines in the healthcare system https://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichten/155533/Koalitionsbruch-sorgt-fuer-Sorgenfalten-im-Gesundheitswesen
[7] (S+) Collapse of the traffic light coalition: Which laws will no longer be passed now https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/ampel-aus-welche-gesetze-jetzt-nicht-mehr-kommen-a-dc4ba7d2-41b1-4ed7-b5ea-fc2632a8a5b8
[8] End of the coalition: Collapse of the traffic light coalition – a catastrophe for planned health laws? https://www.kma-online.de/aktuelles/politik/detail/ampel-aus-katastrophe-fuer-geplante-gesundheitsgesetze-52913
