SHERIDAN, WYOMING - November 13, 2025 - Germany's flagship hospital congress, the Deutscher Krankenhaustag 2025, will bring together policymakers, healthcare executives, and clinical leaders in Düsseldorf from November 17-20 to debate the country's most ambitious health system reforms in decades. Under the banner "Neustart Krankenhauspolitik - Mut zur Veränderung," the four-day event will focus on financing, digital transformation, workforce resilience, and international cooperation in the hospital sector.
Policy and Financing Take Center Stage
The congress opens on November 17 with a high-level political session featuring Federal Health Minister Nina Warken and NRW Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann. Discussions will address hospital financing reform, long-term structural modernization, and the future of care provision across Germany's regional health landscape.
Speakers from the Deutsche Krankenhausgesellschaft (DKG), the Verband der Krankenhausdirektoren Deutschlands (VKD), and the Verband leitender Krankenhausärztinnen und -ärzte (VLK) will outline how governance and financial models must evolve to maintain care quality amid cost pressures and demographic change.
Economist Prof. Dr. Boris Augurzky and InEK Managing Director Dr. Frank Heimig will further analyze the financial sustainability of hospitals under new reimbursement systems. The day concludes with an evening networking event bringing together policymakers, hospital boards, and suppliers.
AI, Resilience, and Digital Readiness in Focus
Day two shifts attention to operational innovation and crisis preparedness. Sessions on "Entbürokratisierung" and "Sind die Kliniken für die Krisenbewältigung bereit?" will feature insights from medical leaders, digital experts, and cybersecurity specialists.
PD Dr. Peter Bobbert of Marburger Bund and Florian Schwieker of Corti will explore how artificial intelligence can relieve administrative burden and enhance clinical decision-making. Legal expert Dr. Tilmann Dittrich will outline the framework for hospital crisis management, while Generalarzt Dr. Michael Zallet from the Bundeswehr will discuss medical readiness in national emergencies.
Rounding out the day, Dr. Martin C. Wolff from KRITIS & Cyber Beratungsgesellschaft will address cyber resilience-an increasingly critical factor for hospital IT infrastructure.
Nursing Reform and Workforce Empowerment
November 19, the Tag der Pflege, highlights the human dimension of reform. Led by nursing leaders such as Dr. Sabine Berninger (DBfK) and Jens Albrecht (Pflegekammer NRW), the program underscores how professional empowerment and sectoral integration can transform patient care.
A "Nursing Journey" case study will illustrate patient pathways through the health system, identifying structural breaks and proposing cross-sector solutions. Panel discussions will examine pain points in staffing, education, and legislation, while speakers such as Prof. Frank Weidner will advocate expanding nursing responsibilities through defined "reserved tasks."
The day concludes with a forward-looking session on "Sektorenübergreifende Versorgung 2035," envisioning new care models that bridge inpatient and outpatient boundaries.
German-Chinese Collaboration on Healthcare Innovation
The congress closes on November 20 with the 2nd German-Chinese Hospital Day, hosted by DCG-Health GmbH in cooperation with the DKG and the German-Chinese Business Association. This year's event will spotlight the growing exchange between German and Chinese healthcare systems, particularly in digital transformation and integrative medicine.
Sessions will cover the outcomes of the "Experience Chinese Medicine" delegation, new models for cross-border data and medical device regulation, and best practices in intellectual property protection for international collaborations. Expert panels featuring representatives from Charité, Guangdong Provincial Hospital, and Silver Mountain Group will analyze opportunities for joint R&D and market entry.
Strategic Implications for Europe's Healthcare Providers
The 48th edition of the Deutscher Krankenhaustag reinforces its role as the strategic platform for healthcare decision-makers. By uniting policymakers, clinical leaders, and global partners, the congress underscores that sustainable hospital transformation will require both regulatory courage and operational innovation.
For hospital directors, suppliers, and investors, the message is clear: resilience, workforce empowerment, and international collaboration will define Europe's healthcare competitiveness in the next decade.
Learn more about the full program and registration details at www.deutscher-krankenhaustag.de.