University hospitals warn of financial collapse

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Switzerland’s university hospitals are in serious financial difficulties. The heads of five hospitals expressed their concerns in clear terms on Tuesday at the Inselspital in Bern.

After the accumulated loss of about 200 million francs for 2022, they expect a further increase to about 300 million francs for the current year. The relevant representatives of the university hospitals in Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne and Zurich explained this together.

This news is paradoxical, because many patients can be treated. However, the tariffs would no longer cover the costs. Salary adjustments for hospital staff, rising energy prices and inflation in particular will contribute to extra expenditure this year, assuming rates remain the same. This causes more losses.

Hospitals threaten to cancel contracts

The special role of the university hospitals, also as research centers, must therefore be taken into account by both the negotiating partners – ie the insurance companies – and the Federal Public Service Home Affairs (EDI).

“Otherwise, the fulfillment of the performance mandates of our hospitals is in acute danger,” said Uwe E. Jocham (59), chairman of Insel Gruppe Bern. Without cost-covering tariff offers, the university hospitals would have to terminate the main lines of the existing collective labor agreements at the end of 2023.

Staff shortages put pressure on the hospital’s financial resources

The review will further exacerbate the already critical tariff situation, it said. If the prices or rates are not adjusted to reality, the cantons where the hospitals are located should prepare financial rescue packages for the hospitals in the foreseeable future. “The solutions presented at the moment ultimately endanger healthcare,” says Werner Kübler, hospital director of the University Hospital Basel.

In addition, many university hospitals could no longer serve all beds due to a lack of staff. This lack of qualified personnel has been noticeable for several years and is exacerbated by the corona pandemic, demographic developments and changing demands in the working environment.

“The labor market situation is extremely challenging for us,” said Gregor Zünd, CEO of the University Hospital Zurich, at the media conference. The hospitals have already taken numerous measures to further improve working and working conditions, according to the media conference. However, most of these measures would also increase staff costs, placing an additional burden on hospital finances.

(SDA)

Source:Blick