Germany could shut down hospitals amid energy crisis

The German health sector is treading down a dark path, with many hospitals being at the threat of closing down completely, Report informs, citing foreign media.

Many hospitals in Germany are up against the ropes, with closures looming on the horizon as rising energy costs and soaring inflation stifle the health sector, German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said on Sunday.

"The hospitals are in a very special situation. If we do not react quickly and really drastically, there will be closures," Lauterbach told ARD broadcaster.

At the same time, the minister noted that the situation is different in private hospitals, since they are "better insulated and partly equipped with a more efficient energy supply than other institutions, in particular, municipal hospitals."

Lauterbach said he would discuss how many forms of assistance should be provided to the country's hospitals with German Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Tuesday. In the meantime, however, Berlin has no plans to set up private funds for hospitals, similar to the one in place for the Bundeswehr, the country's armed forces.

"We cannot create separate special funds for each sphere," Lauterbach stressed.