Nursing reform: Protest in Erfurt against planned cuts

Hundreds of people marched through Erfurt, Germany, protesting against the government's current nursing care reform plans. Waving banners and blowing whistles, demonstrators chanted slogans like "Save elsewhere, but not from us!" expressing their anger over proposed budget cuts.

The protest was organized by the Federal Association of Private Social Service Providers (bpa) in Thuringia, along with other social welfare associations. They are calling for significant revisions to the draft legislation, emphasizing the need for concrete proposals to expedite the recognition and employment of international nursing staff in Germany.

The proposed "Nursing Care Reorganization Act" is intended to stabilize the finances of the nursing care insurance system, which faces a deficit of billions. However, critics argue that the savings package, initiated by the previous government, fails to address the fundamental issues within the system. Thuringia's Minister of Social Affairs, Katharina Schenk, expressed hope that the current Federal Minister of Health, Carsten Linnemann, would reconsider the draft, stating that "savings do not solve a structural problem."

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Save elsewhere, but not from us!

Unlike health insurance, nursing care insurance only covers a portion of costs, requiring individuals to pay a significant out-of-pocket share. In Thuringia, the average monthly co-payment for a nursing home place in the first year, as of July 1, stands at approximately 3,163 euros, an increase of about 250 euros from the previous year, according to an analysis by the Association of Substitute Health Insurance Funds (vdek). This rising cost also increases the burden on social assistance for those needing care.

Looking ahead, demographic projections suggest a continued rise in the number of people requiring care in Thuringia. The State Office for Statistics estimates that around 194,000 people in the state were receiving some form of care at the end of 2023. This figure is projected to increase to approximately 211,300 by 2042, highlighting the growing need for sustainable solutions in the long-term care sector.

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Savings do not solve a structural problem.