The government puts funding for community hospitals on hold

The financing of 25 local hospitals, which was presented last year in connection with a health reform, is temporarily put on hold.

That’s what Politiken writes.

The government will only start disbursing DKK 3.5 billion to local hospitals when a structural commission finds out what the future healthcare system should look like.

This is what Minister of the Interior and Health Sophie Løhde (V) tells the newspaper.

– This is not about there not being local hospitals. It is about us making sure to think about the establishment of local hospitals together with the future organization of our healthcare system.

– Everything else will be irresponsible, says the minister.

It was then Minister of Health Magnus Heunicke (S), who last year presented a broad political agreement on a health reform, which included the plans for local hospitals.

They had to ensure “a safe and coherent health service for citizens throughout the country”, it said then.

The SVM government is initially content with spending DKK 500 million for increased home treatment, the newspaper writes.

According to the plan, the structure commission is to be appointed next week.

It aims to come up with different proposals for the future healthcare system. These bids must be presented next spring, and then a new organization must be adopted before the summer of 2025.

Enhedslist’s spokesperson for health, Peder Hvelplund, is critical of the fact that the whole thing is now being put on hold. He believes the government is delaying something “that we know we need”, he says.

The government, on the other hand, has support from both the Conservatives and SF.

Martin Damm (V), who is chairman of the National Association of Municipalities (KL), is upset about pausing something that is already underway.

However, he shows an understanding that it must fit into the next plans when you spend so much money.

/ritzau/