Overview

• North Rhine-Westphalia's hospital reform, emphasizing specialization, will take effect April 1, 2025, despite over 100 lawsuits and urgent applications from hospitals challenging service restrictions.
• The SPD opposition in NRW criticized the rushed implementation timeline, noting that clinics received only four months to adapt to the changes.
• Rheinland-Pfalz plans to introduce Regiokliniken by 2027, combining ambulatory and stationary care for everyday emergencies, though federal definitions and frameworks remain incomplete.
• Thuringia has allocated €100 million for transforming hospitals into health centers by 2027, with €20 million earmarked for initial funding in 2025.
• Nationwide, financial strain, staffing shortages, and concerns over rural access continue to challenge the reform's goals of ensuring equitable and sustainable healthcare.