German Nursing Council criticizes coalition plans for nursing reform

The German Nursing Council sees significant problems in the coalition's reform plans - especially for those in need of care and those who care for them. What the association specifically demands.

The Nursing Council views the higher hurdles in accessing care levels and the planned removal of the relief amount for care level 1 as particularly critical. (Symbolic image) Photo: Marcus Brandt/dpa

Berlin. The German Nursing Council has called on the black-red coalition to comprehensively revise the previous plans for nursing care reform. “The higher hurdles in accessing care levels and the planned deletion of the relief amount for care level 1 are particularly critical,” said Association President Christine Vogler to the editorial network Germany. “The need for care does not disappear as a result.”

For professional carers, the previously planned suspension of collective agreement compliance for several years and a limit on the financing of future wage increases would be particularly consequential. "We need nurses who stay in the profession. Anyone who weakens adherence to collective bargaining agreements and the financing of personnel costs endangers care," said Vogler.

She also called for not only the pension contributions for caring relatives to be financed from tax revenue, but also the training costs. This is also a task for society as a whole, the costs of which should not end up with people in need of care. In addition, the countries would have to fulfill their responsibility for the investment costs.

Coalition argues over reform package

The care reform is currently at the center of a serious coalition dispute between the Union and the SPD. Federal Health Minister Carsten Linnemann (CDU) wants to bring a bill to the cabinet this Wednesday that is intended to stabilize the finances of statutory nursing care insurance next year. However, the SPD is threatening to block Linnemann's austerity plans and rejects a “pure austerity package”.

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