Clinic crisis in Rhineland-Palatinate: DRK reports bankruptcy for eleven locations!

Clinic crisis in Rhineland-Palatinate: DRK reports bankruptcy for eleven locations!

The German Red Cross (DRK) has registered bankruptcy for all its clinic locations in Rhineland-Palatinate and withdraws completely from the clinic business. As of February 7, 2025, the DRK announced that eleven locations are affected, including the DRK pain clinic in Mainz. The withdrawal is the result of persistent economic challenges and uncertain health -political framework conditions that have significantly affected the operational processes. Rural regions such as Worms, Alzey and Bad Kreuznach are also affected, where the DRK has previously provided more than 80,000 patients annually.

like mainzund.de was reported in Rhineland-Palatinate with around 4,200 employees. Hospital sector. The financial situation of the non -profit hospital company deteriorated significantly in 2024, which ultimately led to the conclusion of an insolvency proceedings. Attempts to find a solution with the Rheinische supplementary pension fund (RZVK) failed, which led to significant demands and brought the previously sought renovation concept to crash.

focus on medical care

On December 6, 2024, the DRK reported bankruptcy after five clinics had already slipped into insolvency. On February 7, 2025, the Mainz District Court approved the provisional bankruptcy proceedings. During the procedure, medical care at all affected locations remains secured, both in outpatient and in stationary areas. Experts estimate that the duration of the procedure usually includes three months, but the future perspective for the locations remains uncertain.

The managing director of the State Hospital Society described the withdrawal of the DRK as a historical event and emphasized that inadequate financing through politics plays an important role. The Rhineland-Palatinate Minister of Health Clemens Hoch expressed his regret about the situation, but emphasized that there was no way for the state's financial support for insolvent clinics. Criticism also comes from the CDU opposition, which warns of an impending clinic death, while ÖDP politicians are demanding basic reforms in the hospital system.

general hospital crisis

The diagnosis of the crisis in the health sector is alarming. According to a survey of 2023, 65% of the clinics in Rhineland-Palatinate make loss. This reflects the national trends that almost every sixth hospital of the DRK is insolvent. ZDF reports of a deficit of the clinics of over 14 billion euros, with around 80 percent of the houses write red numbers. DRK President Gerda Hasselfeldt emphasizes that the governments have not yet thought about sensible transitional regulations as part of a planned hospital reform.

The planned reform of Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach is intended to promote a stronger specialization of the clinics and initiate a partial departure from financing through flat rates. DKG Vice President warn that 25% of hospitals could be insolvent by 2030. In rural areas it is also feared that clinics will be further disadvantaged because they often have to offer underfunded, less lucrative services.