Health Minister Begins Term with Surplus Despite Rising Service Costs
The new Health Minister's term starts with a surplus in the health insurance fund, despite rising service costs. Inpatient care saw the largest cost block increase at 8.8 percent, while home intensive care rose by 9.7 percent, and medical services by 9.3 percent. Personnel costs, especially in nursing, are cited as the main driver for hospital cost increases.
The new Health Minister entered an era in which the health insurance fund reports a surplus despite rising service costs. This financial position is supported by several growing cost blocks. In particular, inpatient care recorded the largest increase in cost blocks in the first half of the year, at 8.8 percent. Added to this are rising costs in home intensive care, which increased by 9.7 percent, and a significant increase in medical care services by 9.3 percent. A major driver for the increased costs in the hospital sector is personnel costs, with nursing staff being cited as the main cause of the cost increases.