German hospitals cut staff due to budgeting:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
During 1999 and the first half of 2000, 42% of German hospitals were forced to cut staff numbers due to budgeting within the sector, says the German hospitals association (DKG). The figures, published by the German hospital institute, reveal that in 1999 eight full-time workers were dismissed per hospital, and a further 7.4 during the first half of 2000. The cuts did not generally affect doctors, but rather medical care staff. The DKG also said that hospitals were not able to fill 7,500 vacant positions in 1999 due to budgeting. The number rose to 8,100 in 2000. Quality did, however, remain high within the hospital system, claimed the DKG.