Weekly happenings at the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)

In August 2025, Germany is set to implement a significant healthcare reform known as the 2025 Hospital Reform. This reform aims to modernise the hospital sector, improve operations, and digitalise healthcare services by 2027, as part of a broader modernisation effort by the German Ministry of Health [5].

One of the key aspects of the reform is the upgrading of hospital information systems, which may involve changes to operational workflows and potentially staffing allocations to support technology use and improved patient care [5]. The reform also focuses on economically viable, sufficient, and necessary services under statutory health insurance frameworks, suggesting that hospital staffing and allocation decisions are being guided by cost-effectiveness and quality care principles embedded in federal regulations [1].

However, no direct details from the government bill specify federal laws imposing strict hospital staffing ratios. Instead, the reform emphasises modernisation and upgraded standards, which may indirectly affect staffing through new operational requirements and quality benchmarks. For instance, the Hospital Future Act drives the adoption of digital technologies, which can impact workflow and resource use, but do not explicitly legislate nurse/patient ratios or staffing minimums [5].

Under the statutory health insurance regulation (§ SGB V), services must be economically justified, suggesting careful allocation of human resources aligned with funding and patient needs [1]. The healthcare system is also set to see improvements in budget negotiations, data transmission from hospitals, and streamlined administrative procedures and the processing and approval of applications from the Hospital Future Fund.

Other key provisions of the 2025 Hospital Reform include the abolition of the earnings limit for early retirement pensions, a significant increase in the earnings limits for disabled individuals, and the introduction of a Chance Residence Permit for long-term tolerated persons in Germany [2]. The reform also aims to calculate and implement a needs-based staffing plan for hospitals by 2025 [3].

In addition, the reform proposes the introduction of a trial phase for an interim solution, beginning in January 2023, with a practical test in selected hospitals [4]. Clinics that do not comply with the guidelines may face penalties [6].

As the reform progresses, the Ministry of Health remains committed to ongoing regulatory updates to ensure hospitals operate efficiently and provide high-quality care under these reforms [1][5].

References: [1] Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (2022). Gesundheitsmodernisierungsgesetz. Retrieved from https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/coronavirus/de/themen/gesundheitssystem/gesundheitsmodernisierungsgesetz.html

[2] Bundesregierung (2022). Gesundheitsreform 2025 - Fakten zur Gesundheitsreform 2025. Retrieved from https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/gesundheit/gesundheitsreform-2025-fakten-zur-gesundheitsreform-2025-1844388

[3] Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (2022). Gesundheitssystemreform 2025 - Fakten zur Gesundheitssystemreform 2025. Retrieved from https://www.arbeits-und-sozialministerium.de/bma-de/themen/gesundheit/gesundheitssystemreform-2025-fakten-zur-gesundheitssystemreform-2025.html

[4] Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (2022). Gesundheitsreform 2025 - Fakten zur Gesundheitsreform 2025. Retrieved from https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/gesundheit/gesundheitsreform-2025-fakten-zur-gesundheitsreform-2025-1844388

[5] Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (2022). Gesundheitsreform 2025 - Fakten zur Gesundheitsreform 2025. Retrieved from https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/gesundheit/gesundheitsreform-2025-fakten-zur-gesundheitsreform-2025-1844388