Reform in hospitals creates significant obstacles for KMG clinics
The small town of Wittstock in Brandenburg, Germany, is currently in the midst of a significant change. The KMG Clinic in Wittstock, a long-standing fixture in the community, is set to close its doors at the end of 2026 due to the Hospital Care Improvement Act, a federal hospital reform regulation.
This act will not allow the continuation of the cardiology and gastroenterology departments at the Wittstock clinic from January 1, 2027. However, the regional healthcare provision is not expected to be endangered, as Wittstock is not a basic care hospital and does not provide emergency services like stroke or accident treatment.
The affected departments will be relocated to the KMG Clinic in Pritzwalk, which is slated for a series of expansions and improvements. A new building for catheterization labs is planned for 2027, with temporary housing in a modular unit. Intensive care and intermediate care capacities (IMC) in Pritzwalk will also be expanded to accommodate the increased patient load.
Citizens in Wittstock have been protesting against the closure of their local clinic, but the health minister of Brandenburg has assured that the move is necessary for the sustainable development of a good medical offer for the region.
In a positive development, the services of the internal medicine departments - cardiology and gastroenterology - from Wittstock will be provided at the KMG Clinic Pritzwalk starting January 1, 2027.
Meanwhile, the clinic for geriatrics will be moved to the Kyritz location, and a center for outpatient operations has already been established at the KMG Clinic. The move from Wittstock to Pritzwalk is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026.
It's important to note that the hospital reform will not have significant consequences for the other KMG clinics. The restructuring is seen as a necessary step towards providing better, more specialized care in the region.
The citizens of Wittstock and Pritzwalk are now bracing themselves for the changes ahead, as they navigate this transition in healthcare services. The KMG Clinic, a symbol of medical care in these towns, prepares to evolve, ensuring the continued provision of quality healthcare in the region.
