What’s at risk if we remain underfunded

Ignoring the need for higher resources means accepting the recurring hospital debt that the state covers without clear added value. At the same time, we deepen underinvestment — modern equipment, renovations, and digitalization are lacking, which ultimately shows up in poorer access to care. The population is aging, chronic diseases are increasing, and healthcare workers are aging as well, so the need for personnel is growing. To handle waiting times and the transformation of the hospital network, we will need more, not fewer, resources.

Informal payments: a symptom of scarcity that hurts patients

Legal fees in pharmacies, at the dentist, or at emergency services are well known, but the extent of payments to specialists and GPs is surprising. A patient survey from August of last year showed that four out of ten paid an average of 17 euros per visit to a specialist, and two out of ten paid around 10 euros to a GP. While statistics for 2020 reported an average of roughly 3 euros per adult per year, a recalculation based on actual visits today comes out to roughly 64 euros. In total, that amounts to approximately 300 million euros per year, i.e., a third to a quarter of spending on outpatient care.

Informal and non-transparent payments lead to postponed visits — patients worry about how much they will have to pay and whether they can afford it. Such a trend moves us away from European standards and deepens inequalities in access to treatment. Sustainable and predictable financing is therefore not only an economic necessity, but also a prerequisite for trust and access for all.