Hospitals on the rise: Glimmer of hope despite financial worries!

Hospitals on the rise: Glimmer of hope despite financial worries!

The financial situation of Swiss hospitals remains tense, although some facilities are showing positive signals. While the University Hospital of Basel (USB) is forecasting a profit of 200,000 francs for 2024, there are still many hospitals that are in the loss zone. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Robert-Jan Bumbacher, emphasizes that the USB is on the road to financial success, but the overall overview shows a different picture. The University Hospital of Zurich reported a loss of around 30 million francs for 2023, an improvement compared to 49 million francs the previous year. The Bernese archipelago also recorded a loss of almost 24 million francs, which can, however, be seen as progress compared to the previous year, when it was over three times as high.

The financial situation of many hospitals remains problematic overall. According to Christine Wanner, SRF Bundeshaus editor, positive developments should not be prematurely interpreted as a trend reversal. The average EBITDA margin for 2023 is only 1.8%, which clearly shows that many hospitals are not achieving the target margin. In order to be able to invest in the future - especially with regard to an aging population - higher profits of around 10% are necessary.

Winners and losers in the hospital system

A survey by Medinside illustrates the financial difficulties of various hospitals. Health economist Heinz Locher describes the situation as “dramatic” and warns of possible problems with new buildings in the next 10 to 15 years. The situation of institutions such as the Aarau Hospital, the Freiburg Hospital and the St. Gallen Hospitals, which are in a critical financial situation, is particularly worrying.

In contrast, there are hospitals with stable financial results, such as the Zollikerberg Hospital, which achieved the highest EBITDA margin of 12.7%. The Thurgau hospitals, Limmattal, Bülach and Wetzikon are also all above the 10% mark. Institutions with this margin can secure their operations in the long term, while those in the bottom half of the table face financial constraints. Unrest and rapid changes in strategy have also had a negative impact on financial results, for example at the Lindenhof Group.

Future outlook for hospital care

The financial situation is influenced by external factors such as more efficient staff planning and reduced dependence on external nursing staff at USB, which director Rakesh Padiyath cites as part of the success. Nevertheless, support from the cantons remains primarily short-term and is not considered a sustainable solution. In the long term, hospital care requires comprehensive, supra-regional planning in order to be able to respond appropriately to the increasing needs of patients in a changing demographic context.

Overall, it is clear that the challenges facing the Swiss hospital system are far-reaching, and how institutions adapt their structures and strategies to achieve future financial stability will be crucial.