Increased power for lobbyists coincides with decreased knowledge for patients

In a surprising turn of events, Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) has announced plans to abolish the Clinic Atlas, a transparency tool designed to help patients make informed decisions about their treatment based on the quality of hospitals. This decision has sparked controversy and concerns among various stakeholders.

The Clinic Atlas, introduced by Warken's predecessor, Karl Lauterbach (SPD), was met with resistance from the clinic lobby and state governments from the start. Despite these challenges, it was intended to provide a transparent picture of the quality of hospital treatments, recording parameters such as the frequency and complication rates of specific treatments on a publicly accessible platform.

Transparency provided by the Clinic Atlas, as demonstrated by experiences from other countries, is a basis for insight into the need for comprehensive reforms. With the Clinic Atlas, patients and their relatives could have made informed decisions about where to seek treatment based on the quality of hospitals. However, the Clinic Atlas has shrunk to a rather unimpressive mini-version and has been widely criticised for its lack of impact.

The clinic lobby, in response, is offering its own online directory. However, the loss of a lobby-independent portal for hospital quality information is significant. Critics argue that the proposed online directory lacks independence, and the alternative currently being discussed to the Clinic Atlas is being criticized as a joke.

The current reform process in the healthcare system is not a good sign. The successor to Karl Lauterbach as Federal Health Minister, Nina Warken, plans to adjust the hospital reform by giving more leeway to the states and extending deadlines for implementation. However, her proposals have faced resistance due to concerns about potential costs. Warken has also announced further plans for a watering down of the hospital reform.

Our independent, left-wing, and opinionated daily newspaper, Debate, founded in 1979, has been following this development closely. The potential abolition of the Clinic Atlas is a significant step that could impact the quality and transparency of healthcare services in Germany. As the reform process continues, it is crucial to ensure that patients' interests are prioritised and that decisions are made based on evidence and transparency.