Consistent implementation of the hospital reform – Transparency Act is the first step

13.09.2023 16:34

The university hospitals welcome the cabinet decision on the Hospital Transparency Act as the first important step in the consistent implementation of the hospital reform. The key issues paper announced that data on the range of services and the quality of inpatient care would be published to inform and educate patients. The foundations for greater clarity and better information for citizens have now been laid.

“The transparency directory shows care levels as already provided for in the coalition agreement. That is appropriate. Level 3U makes the university hospitals visible as a separate level of care. In the future, citizens will be able to clearly see where maximum care is provided, where interdisciplinary treatment is provided and where innovations are researched. Assigning staff to specialist departments is a practical and proven approach. When it comes to hospital reform, however, a further increase in bureaucracy must be avoided,” says Prof. Jens Scholz, 1st Chairman of the Association of University Hospitals in Germany (VUD).

Providing information about the quality of care with the transparency directory is right, but also demanding. The presentation of the quality of results must be based on a scientifically developed, risk-adjusted assessment of quality. It must not lead to hospitals avoiding treatments that are fraught with complications and risks because of the presentation. The scientific community must therefore be closely involved in implementation.

“The Hospital Transparency Act is the starting signal for the implementation of the key issues paper. This must now also be an incentive to advance hospital reform in all other aspects. The Federal Ministry of Health delivered the first part. In the next steps, the federal and state governments are now called upon to work together to bring about the urgently needed structural changes. For this we need consistent implementation of the key issues paper,” emphasizes Jens Bussmann, VUD General Secretary.
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