About millions of francs: Associations around Einsiedeln Hospital

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The situation at the Einsiedeln Hospital in the canton of Schwyz is good. A person who is neither a shareholder nor has a deficit in the hospital that is once again the subject of negative headlines.

But even if the canton is outside, the complications are complex: the hospital buildings belong to a foundation with the strange name Hospital Maria zum darken Wald. He was also the operator of the hospital until 2020 and had accumulated a mountain of debt of 65 million francs over the years.

The Einsiedeln district was responsible for this situation through its open guarantee. No peanuts, according to the current annual financial statements, the district’s equity capital is almost 53 million francs. The foundation’s deficit would suddenly deplete its equity capital.

Million dollar financial injection

So Ameos was brought on board as a hospital operator. The hospital buildings remain with the foundation and are currently rented to Ameos for approximately 2.5 million francs per year. The foundation has another building in Einsiedeln, which houses Spitex, among other things. This provides additional rental income that helps pay down debt.

An additional financial injection was made in 2020. The Einsiedeln region made a one-off donation of 6.5 million francs and provided a loan of 4 million francs. Einsiedeln also provides a loan guarantee of 10 million francs. In return, the district was relieved of its deficit guarantee.

According to its own statements, the foundation has reduced its debt mountain by 23 million francs since then. It is currently around 42 million. The target value will be 28 million. “We are on the path to reducing debts,” says Foundation Chairman Markus Hauenstein (65).

Addictions continue

Ameos does not disclose any figures for hospital operations in Einsiedeln. According to the information obtained, the hospital is still making a loss. In the last year before the private hospital group joined, the loss was 6.7 million francs.

If Ameos decides that the hospital cannot be saved safely and withdraws, the foundation will be in trouble again. In the worst-case scenario, the region will have to write off its loan and guaranteed loans totaling 14 million francs.

However: Ameos recently extended its lease with the foundation indefinitely. It may be terminated for the first time in 2033. This ensures that even if the numbers are in the red, Ameos will continue to operate the hospital for at least another decade.

Source :Blick