Freiburg Hospital (HFR) will be eligible for new contributions from the state of Freiburg. The Grand Council voted on Friday a modification in this sense of the law on the financing of hospitals and birth centres, component of investment aid.
The deputies accepted the legislative adaptation with 98 votes against and 1 abstention, at the end of a lively debate marked by perplexities. The amendment goes beyond what was requested by deputies in 2019 by accepting a motion that establishes the possibility for the state to act as guarantor for loans from public hospitals.
The vote is yet another episode in the drama of the HFR’s difficulties. The institution’s situation, a debt of 184 million to the state, a cumulative deficit of 55 million at the end of 2021, is currently jeopardizing its investment projects, in particular the construction of a new hospital in Villars-sur-Glâne . .
Break a lock
The Council of State, through the voice of Health Minister Philippe Demierre, reiterated its readiness to support the HFR. “This is an important step,” he said, as the amendment establishes the legal basis for allowing the state to intervene. Several aspects will be dealt with in the coming years by the Grand Council.
Philippe Demierre cited financial support 2023-2026, the consolidation of accounts and the establishment of a fund for the future hospital, with 5 million a year from 2024. ‘Fribourg is aligning itself with other cantons to support financial investments’, noted centrist Congresswoman Anne Meyer Loetscher.
“The adaptation of the law allows you to jump a lock”, rejoiced the Christian-Social deputy Benoît Rey. In addition to this, many elected officials have denounced the slow pace of government action since 2019. Socialist Elias Moussa cited Samuel Beckett’s play ‘Waiting for Godot’ to symbolize this.
New forms of help
The legislative amendment proposes to help in the form of a surety or guarantee, but also to use other forms on an exceptional basis, such as a loan on favorable terms or a non-repayable grant. But increased government efforts won’t get HFR out of the red digits.
Philippe Demierre recently confirmed to the press that discussions are still open to reduce the debt and resolve the issue of interest that the Freiburg hospital pays each year. “HFR is the priority of this legislature,” centrist MP Hubert Dafflon warned the minister.
Services of general interest (SIPs) are also still on the menu of challenges to be tackled in the short to medium term. They concern the public funding of certain missions such as research, training or even maintaining an emergency service.
Following the revision of the Health Insurance Act (KVG), investments previously supported by the state are integrated into service-related packages co-financed by the cantons and compulsory health insurance. But, for ten years, the reference rates and the outpatient rates have not ceased to decrease, while the loads increase.
/ATS
