German children’s hospitals lack doctors, nurses and, above all, money. Politicians wanted to change that and provided 600 million euros. But only part of it really arrives. Why is that? A research
Loudspeaker Listen to article The situation in children’s hospitals is dramatic again. © Caroline Heinecke for DIE ZEIT
A senior physician calls from the basement of his clinic. Other hospital bosses formulate things so cautiously, as if they were being listened to. They speak quietly, weighing every word, even though they can barely contain their anger. It’s not about espionage or treason, but about her workplace, the children’s hospital.
The reason for the caution: ZEIT’s interviewees complain about the commercial management, which determines their financial scope – and thus decides how well or how poorly the doctors at their clinic can work. From the doctors’ point of view, the conditions are bad. But above all, in their opinion, they could be better.