Reform of Emergency Care in Germany: Draft Legislation Still Largely Unfit for Practice

2026 15 Jan

Major shortcoming: hospital emergency services would remain structurally underfunded This is now the third attempt to pass legislation reforming Germany’s emergency care system—an urgent initiative that can no longer be delayed. The need has once again become very clear in January, with hospital emergency departments severely overcrowded. How1 Read more

New Financial Burdens for German Hospitals in 2026

2025 22 Dec

At the end of last week, the Bundestag  and Bundesrat  approved further financial measures that will place additional strain on German hospitals in 2026. As a result, hospitals will bear almost the entire cost of a €2 billion savings package for the  statutory health insurance system (GKV) —about €1.8 billion.   To achieve this, the most-1 Read more

48th German Hospital Congress: Four Intensive Days in Düsseldorf

2025 21 Nov

Students from Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences visiting the VKD stand. Front right: Professor Dr Julia Oswald – recently awarded Professor of the Year in the Economics/Law category by the UNICUM Foundation – alongside Dr Jens-Uwe Schreck.   Warken: Insurer Deficits Will Continue to Rise – With Consequences Extending Beyond Hospita1 Read more

German Hospital Leaders Warn of “Cold Structural Change” as Reform Act Offers No Concessions

2025 17 Nov

Germany’s hospitals entered this year’s 48th German Hospital Congress in Düsseldorf with a mixture of concern, fatigue, and diminishing confidence in national health policy. Despite the event’s optimistic motto – “A Fresh Start for Hospital Policy – Courage to Change” – the prevailing mood among hospital executives was far from upbeat. After three1 Read more

VKD Set for Key German Hospital Congress & MEDICA 2025: Spotlight on Hospital Reform & Resilience

2025 04 Nov

In two weeks’ time, Germany’s hospital sector will gather in Düsseldorf to discuss a “fresh start” in hospital policy. The Association of Hospital Directors of Germany (VKD) will once again play a central role at the 48th German Hospital Congress (Deutscher Krankenhaustag), held from 17–20 November 2025 in conjunction with MEDICA, the world’s larg1 Read more

Hospitals Bear the Burden: Germany’s ‘Cold’ Structural Reform Continues

2025 16 Oct

As Germany’s healthcare system faces yet another wave of austerity, hospitals find themselves once again at the centre of cost-cutting initiatives. The latest financial measures announced by the Federal Ministry of Health have reignited concerns about the sustainability of hospital funding, raising fears of a persistent ‘cold’ structural reform – 1 Read more

VKD Practice Reports 2025 Published

2025 04 Sep

The Verband der Krankenhausdirektoren Deutschlands (VKD) has released its VKD-Praxisberichte 2025. These reports offer authoritative insights into transformation, emerging structures, crisis readiness, artificial intelligence (AI), and innovation, along with pioneering ideas and projects from VKD.    In a comprehensive interview, VKD Preside1 Read more

MEDICA 2025 and the 48th German Hospital Conference Ahead 

2025 29 Aug

  The healthcare sector is preparing for one of its most significant autumn events. From November 17 to 20, 2025, Düsseldorf will once again host MEDICA, where the medical technology industry will showcase itself as one of the most innovative global sectors. In parallel, the 48th German Hospital Conference (Deutscher Krankenhaustag) will take p1 Read more

Will the Hospital Reform with the KHAG Now Be Fit for Practical Use?

2025 14 Aug

There is no summer break at the Federal Ministry of Health. In early August, the Ministry sent the draft bill for the Hospital Reform Adjustment Act (KHAG) to associations for review and discussion. The key question is: will the KHAG finally correct the numerous shortcomings of the Hospital Care Improvement Act (KHVVG) for hospitals?   At th1 Read more

The Reform is Now Becoming Reality – Short-Term Changes are Urgently Needed

2025 25 Jun

In the photo from left: Prof. Dr. med. Henriette Neumeyer, Simone Borchardt, Dr. Ina Czyborra, PD Dr. Michael A. Weber, Dirk Köcher, Andreas Tyzak   A storm over Berlin on Monday afternoon. The view of the Dahme River from the conference hotel showed the roughly 140 participants of the 67th Annual Conference of the German Association1 Read more

Crisis as a Possible Opportunity—But Many Uncertainties Have Not Yet Been Resolved

2025 23 Jun

Euphoria wasn't necessarily the emotional state in which the approximately 140 participants gathered today at the annual conference of the Association of Hospital Directors of Germany. Rather, it is a kind of skeptical courage for the future that characterises the 67th annual conference of the VKD, which is taking place today and tomorrow in Ber1 Read more

Hope and Skepticism in Equal Measure

2025 07 Jun

The new government is in place, the ministers have been sworn in, and the chancellor has been elected. The coalition agreement was agreed upon by the CDU, CSU, and SPD. However, there is no real sense of optimism, especially after this difficult start with two attempts to elect chancellor. Perhaps that spirit will return with the work on future 1 Read more

2024 Orientation Value Released – Hospital Financing in 2025 Becoming Even More Precarious

2024 01 Oct

  The Federal Statistical Office released the orientation value for hospitals for 2024 yesterday. "This value, which is meant to reflect the average percentage development of hospital costs, is set by the office at 4.24 percent, or 4.12 percent when nursing costs are excluded. This value is below the rate of 4.41 percent published two weeks ago1 Read more

Statement by the Federal Ministry of Health on the KHVVG without Substantial Changes – What Next?

2024 20 Sep

  Like many other associations, the VKD was surprised by the BMG's current statement on the federal states' proposals for the KHVVG. Despite many reservations, the federal states and hospitals wanted the hospital reform to succeed. In July, they therefore drafted extensive compromise proposals and waited a long time for a response from the Fe1 Read more

VKD Presidium: We Need Clarity on the Future of Our Hospitals

2024 11 Sep

  Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach reiterates willingness for dialogue at the Hospital Summit – "We take every suggestion and criticism seriously"   Berlin/Bad Saarow, 11 September 2024. No major surprises, but a few concessions and the promise to seek dialogue with all parties involved regarding the hospital reform. "It’s this lat1 Read more

First Focus: Hospital Reform – Will There Still be an Acceptable Solution?

2024 03 Sep

  Three particularly current topics are shaping the VKD practice reports this year. The first is the design of the hospital reform, which from the perspective of the practice will create a number of serious problems in the implementation planned so far. This includes, among other things, the provision of funding, which should not be implement1 Read more

NRW | Association of Hospital Directors NRW Draws Interim Balance

Nearly 100 managing directors and employees in leading positions from North Rhine-Westphalia's hospital sector gathered in Iserlohn last week. They all accepted the invitation of the NRW regional group of the Association of Hospital Directors Germany (VDH), chaired by Dr. Mark Lönnies.   For two days, renowned figures from politics, bu1 Read more