“240 Million Francs for Aargau’s Kantonsspital: Debate on Financial Injection and Criticism”

It’s an unnecessary luxury. Switzerland and the canton of Aargau are already oversupplied with medicine. That is why Sander Mallien, cantonal parliamentarian of the GLP, is against the cash injection that is supposed to save the Aarauer Kantonsspital KSA. He would rather limit the hospital to providing basic care or just let it go bankrupt. “It’s sad that nobody has had the courage to tell the truth to the public until now,” Mallien told Tele M1. “And that those responsible did not consider it necessary to draw up a plan B.” Because the KSA is not “too big to fail”, as is always said.

Change of mind at the SVP

The SP sees it differently. There is simply no alternative to the 240 million loan, says canton parliamentarian Lelia Hunziker. “We need the KSA, and urgently. Because it has end-supplier status, which means it has to be there for everyone. It’s basic service, service public.”

There has apparently been a change of heart in the recent past in the SVP, after the party was against state aid a few weeks ago. The Health Commission was able to show how the credit for the KSA was calculated. That’s why, for example, SVP Councilor Clemens Hochreuter has now been convinced. “We are having a hard time with the application for financial aid and also said in the consultation that we were against it. But we see the financial difficulties and know that you probably have to speak up for the KSA.”

Mallien calls for referendum

Sander Mallien demands that the 240 million francs in financial aid must be decided by referendum. “If the loan is simply waved through, whether with or without a referendum, the population must be aware that we are only at zero. That nothing at all was changed in the system and that there are still many costs to come.”

Next Tuesday, the cantonal parliament will decide on the 240 million loan to save the Aarauer Kantonsspital. There is a good chance that Sander Mallien’s criticism will not be enough and the credit will be waved through. (argoviatoday.ch)