Prof. Seeger leads new chapter at the University Hospital Gießen and Marburg

Prof. Seeger leads new chapter at the University Hospital Gießen and Marburg

Prof. Dr. Werner Seeger has been appointed as the new chairman of the Supervisory Board of the University Hospital Gießen and Marburg (UKGM). Seeger, who previously worked as a medical manager of the UKGM and left this position in April 2024, brings into the new role for almost five decades. His main goal is to provide the UKGM an equal status among the German university clinics, especially in financial terms. In order to achieve this, Seeger, the investment agreement initiated in 2023, is planning to further advance the "Future Paper Plus", which was completed between the state of Hesse, UKGM and Rhön-Klinikum AG. This agreement is a first step to strengthen the economic basis of the institution, which plays an important role in the health sector. Over 11,200 employees ensure that more than 90,000 inpatient and over 420,000 outpatient patients are treated annually.

Seeger expresses the need for a political fundamental decision for adequate financing in order to ensure long -term progress in medicine, research and teaching. The supervisory board, which includes 16 members from various areas, has the tasks of advising management, examining important decisions and ensuring the long -term health of the company. Part of this strategy is also the constructive dialogue that UKGM leads with the Hessian state government, based on an almost twenty -year cooperation.

Seeger's focus and the importance of lung research

After leaving as a medical director, Seeger started the Élie-Metchnikoff-Senior professorship at the Justus Liebig University in Gießen, where he now focuses on expanding lung research. At the same time, he heads the Institute for Lung Health and the German Center for Lung Research. These positions mark a further step in Seeger's career, which is characterized by numerous responsible positions, among other things as director of the Medical Clinic II and as the managing director of the Center for Internal Medicine since 2000.

Seeger emphasizes that it is necessary to secure university medicine in Middle Hesse in the long term. The financial framework of the health sector are not only crucial for hospitals, but also affect patient care directly. As the current data on health financing show, Germany spends immense sums for health every year, which was 498 billion euros in 2022, which corresponds to 12.8 % of gross domestic product. This is based on Germany in international comparison, behind the USA and Canada, in third place regarding the share of health expenditure in GDP.

challenges and outlook

Seeger takes up its new position in an environment, which is characterized by challenges in financing. The statutory health insurance (GKV) bears the lion's share of health expenditure, which made up 53 % in 2022. Political controversy over injustices in the health insurance system shed light on the current challenges that the healthcare system faces. Seeger and his team at the UKGM hope to master these hurdles through strategic planning and an active dialogue with political decision -makers and to improve medical care in Hesse.