SHERIDAN, WYOMING - November 13, 2025 - At the upcoming Deutscher Krankenhaustag in Düsseldorf, political leaders, healthcare executives, and hospital associations will converge under the banner "Neustart Krankenhauspolitik - Mut zur Veränderung" to debate the direction of Germany's hospital reform agenda. The opening day, held on November 17, 2025, will set the tone for a year of pivotal decisions on financing, structural modernization, and system resilience.
Political and Financial Renewal in Focus
The program begins with a high-profile policy session featuring statements from Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) and North Rhine-Westphalia Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU), joined by Bundestag and state representatives across party lines. The shared message: Germany's hospital landscape demands bold structural change to secure long-term care delivery and financial stability.
Their interventions will frame the debate around cost pressures, staff shortages, and regional disparities in hospital supply - key drivers behind the reform proposals under discussion in Berlin and the federal states. The session will also serve as a platform for Prof. Dr. Armin Grau (BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN) and Tina Rudolph (Thuringian Ministry for Social Affairs) to add cross-party perspectives on how to rebalance access, efficiency, and innovation.
Industry Leadership Aligns on the Need for Reform
The policy dialogue will be followed by an expert debate among leading sector figures, including Dr. Sabine Berninger, Chair of the German Professional Association for Nursing Professions South-East (DBfK), and Dr. Gerald Gaß, Chairman of the Board of the German Hospital Federation (DKG). Both are expected to emphasize the necessity of integrating workforce sustainability into the hospital financing framework.
As Dr. Gerald Gaß will also moderate the subsequent financing panel, his dual role underscores the DKG's central position in bridging the gap between policymakers and providers. The debate will address how current reimbursement models and investment pathways can evolve to reflect real-world patient care and digital transformation demands.
Revisiting Hospital Financing Models
In the afternoon, the focus will shift to economic structures and financial planning. Prof. Dr. Boris Augurzky, health economist at the University of Duisburg-Essen, will discuss long-term cost trajectories and potential reform levers for hospital remuneration. Dr. Frank Heimig, Managing Director of the InEK (Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System), will join Dr. Roland Laufer from the DKG and Johannes Wolff of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-Spitzenverband) to examine the feasibility of hybrid models combining fixed and performance-based elements.
Their joint session, moderated by Dr. Gaß, is expected to highlight practical proposals for achieving financial viability while ensuring fair regional distribution of care capacity - a major challenge as smaller hospitals face closure risks.
Navigating Workforce and Systemic Pressures
Parallel to the fiscal debate, the reform agenda will continue to tackle pressing operational issues such as workforce shortages, overregulation, and resilience to crises. The early exchanges at this session are expected to influence the broader discussions throughout the congress, including panels on artificial intelligence, digitalization, and crisis preparedness later in the week.
The opening event will also feature commentary from Dirk Köcher, President of the Association of Hospital Directors of Germany (VKD), and PD Dr. Michael A. Weber, President of the Association of Senior Hospital Physicians (VLK), representing management and clinical leadership perspectives. Their interventions are expected to underline the need for pragmatic funding frameworks that protect quality of care while enabling modernization.
Building Momentum Toward a Sustainable Hospital Policy
By combining political leadership, financial strategy, and expert insight, the "Neustart Krankenhauspolitik" session aims to catalyze a unified reform agenda. As Dr. Sabine Berninger summarized in a pre-congress statement, "Mut zur Veränderung means more than just courage - it means commitment to transforming our structures so that care remains human, sustainable, and future-oriented."
The discussion in Düsseldorf signals not only the urgency of reform but also a renewed willingness among Germany's healthcare stakeholders to translate long-standing debates into actionable policy. The outcomes of this opening day will likely shape the political tone and legislative priorities for the next phase of hospital reform.
Learn more at www.deutscher-krankenhaustag.de