SPD on health and care

The SPD wants to raise the state's annual hospital funding from 110 to 200 million euros. This is meant to secure broad inpatient care across the state. Municipal hospitals are to join together in networks.

The SPD wants to give hospitals much more money. So far they get 110 million euros a year. In the future it should be 200 million euros. This should keep hospitals open across the state.

The state's fixed funding amount would rise from 110 to 200 million euros a year. Municipal hospitals are to cooperate in subsidized hospital networks, both financially and on specializations. The SPD wants to keep a dense network of maternity clinics, general practitioners and specialists as well as enough midwives; this basic care should not be cut for cost reasons. The Berlin-Brandenburg health region is to be integrated more closely.

The SPD wants an investment program to fund health centers and polyclinics, especially in rural areas. This should help municipalities secure primary care. It also wants more digital services, a stronger public health service and shorter waits for psychotherapy.

The SPD wants to pay for health centers in towns and villages. Several doctors work together there. This should help rural areas most. People should also get a therapy spot faster.

The program is meant to help municipalities keep general practitioners in particular; accessible practices would be one criterion for awarding funds. Digital tools such as telemedicine and the electronic health card are to be used more. The public health service is to be strengthened further, with a focus on prevention and health promotion. In psychotherapy, especially for children and teenagers, gaps in outpatient care are to be closed and waiting times shortened.

The SPD wants to continue the Landärztestipendium (rural doctor scholarship) and extend it to dentistry to counter the shortage of doctors in rural regions. Foreign qualifications should be recognized faster. The Agnes program for community nurses should be open to everyone with health insurance.

Rural areas lack doctors. So the SPD wants to keep giving scholarships. A scholarship is money for studying. In return, students must later work in Brandenburg for five years. Experts from abroad should also be allowed to work sooner.

Scholarship recipients must then work in Brandenburg for five years; in the future it would also cover future dentists. The SPD wants to develop incentives for pharmacists to move to rural areas. Hospitals are to be required to offer enough training positions. According to the program, the Agnes scheme is so far paid for by only three insurers and should be extended to all insured people. Recognition of foreign medical professionals is to be sped up.

The SPD wants to prevent care costs from pushing people into poverty. The state is to cover a larger share of investment costs so that people in care pay less themselves. The “Pakt für Pflege” (care pact) is also to continue permanently.

A place in a care home costs a lot. The SPD wants people in care to pay less themselves. The state should cover more of the costs. Care at home should also get more support.

At the federal level, the SPD calls for a reform of long-term care insurance that caps the personal contribution. The “Pakt für Pflege” is to be made permanent and should above all strengthen home care and neighborhood help. Temporary agency work in care is to be strictly limited nationwide. Nursing and health care schools would get a higher investment allowance, and medical assistants should have better options for further qualification.