The University Hospital Jena (UKJ) is to receive millions in financial support from the state this year and next year. The hospital will also use the money to take out a new loan and continue its work as the only university hospital in Thuringia.
The Thuringian Ministry of Science and Finance announced on Friday that the Jena University Hospital will receive a multi-million euro aid package from the state this year and next year. As Carsten Feller, State Secretary of the Ministry of Science, announced, another 20 million euros will be made available in 2024. A further 24 million euros will be available next year.
The state will not only pay off the hospital’s old loans, but also take out a new one to cover running costs and the remaining installments for the New research building in Jena-Lobeda This means that the hospital is considered financially secure for the time being.
The financial injection will also be used to pay off the new clinic building in Jena-Lobeda.
UKJ plays a key role in Thuringian healthcare
In mid-July, the clinic warned of impending underfundingShe had pointed out that the current remuneration model did not sufficiently take into account the fact that the UKJ as the only university hospital in Thuringia to fulfil special tasks and, for example, operate specialized medical centers.
“The UKJ is one of the few university hospitals in Germany that has been in the black for years and has also used its own funds for additional investments,” said State Secretary Feller. The difficult financial situation for hospitals since the Corona pandemic and higher personnel and energy costs However, the Jena Clinic was not left unscathed.
Hospital reform aims to secure future financing
The remuneration model criticized by the UKJ is to be changed with the hospital reform, which Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) already launched in MayAccording to this, hospitals will in future not only be paid for each case treated, but also proportionally for the provision of certain services.
The UKJ treated over half a million people last year. The hospital includes 31 hospitals, 26 institutes and almost 7,000 employeesThe final decision on the planned financial aid from 2025 onwards must be made by the new Thuringian state parliament, which will be elected on 1 September.
