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Will Wattwil Hospital still be preserved? And the one in Walenstadt? Will Rorschach be the first hospital to be closed? These and other burning questions will come up at today’s meeting of the St. Gallen Cantonal Council, which is dedicated to a single topic: the canton’s controversial hospital strategy.
The Cantonal Council live
10:27 am
Fundamental critique of the government’s capitalist view: Hospital closures are questionable because the “repeatedly predicated” profit target of 10 percent (in technical jargon Ebitda margin) is completely out of date, says Michael Schöbi (CVP). If you only take into account the risk of the investor, that is, the canton, you wonder if you want to enrich yourself with its residents.
10:16 am
The government’s presentation made the initiative launched in 2019 with national SVP politicians for comprehensive emergency care in the canton of St. Erwin bohi and praises the described emergency centers (GZN). However, he is of the opinion that individual locations should be included in the law. Formerly Canton Councilor Goldacher CVP Luzia Krempl-Gnädinger As an employee of Rorschach Hospital, you regret the dismantling there, but fundamentally support the strategy. Now we must move forward to pass the paralyzing state.
10:01 am
Meinrad Gschwend (Green).
The Greens have had to jump into their shadow multiple times in health policy in recent years and support the current proposal, including closing four rural hospitals, he says Meinrad Gschwend. In emergency situations, however, the described strategy will not work, this is “dishonest and a fire game”.
09:55 am
GLP supports the new hospital strategy in principle, but would like an updated geriatric report and consequently fine tuning of hospital locations. This explains spokesperson Franziska Cavelti Häller.
09:47 am
Peter Boppart (CVP).
The CVP-EPP Group supports the government’s proposal and the preliminary commission’s requests. But it’s important to give individual locations good perspectives, he explains. Peter Boppart (CVP). To avoid the “bottomless pit” in the future, painful decisions are necessary. The board of directors should not be constantly held back by politics. With a view to Walenstadt and Wil, the government is expected to find a quick solution with Graubünden and other neighboring cantons.
09:36 am
Dario Sulzer (SP).
As announced, the resistance comes from the left: Dario Sulzer (SP) he talks about a “dismantling bill.” The population only said yes to hospital care seven years ago, and today it faces a lot of broken glass. Anyone who opposes the closures will laugh at it like a fantasy, this is a show of force on the part of the cantonal hospital. Government trade patterns lead to losers in the regions. But instead of coming together in solidarity, an outrageous dispute broke out between them, for example, Wattwil vs. Wil.
The acute hospitals in the regions are vital, the economic damage is hidden. For only 6 million francs, Altstätten, Walenstadt and Wattwil could be obtained as multi-sector hospitals. In Flawil, the PS jumped into its shadow and supported the health center, but it should not be sold to individuals. The SP does not want to be in the bill.
Interview with Martin Sailer, SP, Toggenburg before the debate:
09:25 am
The FDP is also following the government’s proposal, the faction’s spokesman said. Arno noger. The quality of hospital care could not be maintained with nine locations, and the cantonal council was unable to alter a carefully crafted package with selective and regional objections. In Wil, as in Walenstadt, intercantonal cooperation should be examined.
The cantonal councilor of the FDP, Arno Noger, explains: Your party is following the government’s proposal.
09:13 am
Karl Güntzel (Senior Vice President).
The canton has a significant oversupply of hospital beds, aggravated by the trend towards outpatient interventions, it says Karl Güntzel on behalf of the SVP parliamentary group. For the canton’s population of half a million people, one to a maximum of two acute care hospitals would suffice, but geographic and non-cantonal needs should be taken into account. Locations that do not meet the criteria should not be saved under the heading “regional economic development.” The “five plus four” concept is an important intermediate step for others to take.
8:56 am
Walter Gartmann (Senior Vice President).
For decades, the cantonal council has been concerned with hospital strategy, opens the president of the preliminary advisory commission, Walter Gartmann (Senior Vice President), the debate. Time and time again, new ideas failed due to regional interests. Previous proposals to clean up the hospital landscape were always rejected with the objection “But please, not here.” But now there is a good proposal. The commission met eleven times (!) And achieved a result that deserves support, despite tough cuts. “Sometimes something has to die for something new to emerge,” says Gartmann, comforting the representatives of those districts who fear that their country’s hospital will be closed.
8:45 am
The council is discussing the procedure and the timetable, because already a first request for a regulation by Ivan Louis (Senior Vice President) Present. The Toggenburger wants to deal with the law first and only after the decision of the Cantonal Council. All parliamentary groups are against it, and government councilor Bruno Damann also warns of a change that would make the complex issue even more cumbersome. The request is clearly rejected.
Ivan Louis, Senior Vice President of Toggenburg in an interview before the debate:
8:44 am
Interview with government councilor Bruno Damann before the debate:
8:34 am
The president of the Cantonal Council, Bruno Cozzio, opens the meeting.
Klingeling, the session is open. The president of the Cantonal Council, Bruno Cozzio, welcomes him and explains that due to the great media interest, an exceptional filming permit has been granted in the room. These are very important decisions in the St. Gallen healthcare system.
8:31 am
Slight delay, probably due to the Toggenburg demonstration outside on the great stairs to Olma Hall. It should start immediately.
07:17 am
Toggenburg resistance: Wattwil protesters are on the way
In Toggenburg in particular, there is resistance to the plans of the St. Gallen government, because it wants to close the Wattwil hospital and establish a health and emergency center in its place. That is why around 40 people gathered in Wattwil early this morning. They go to St. Gallen together and want to protest there.
07:15 am
Good morning and welcome to the live ticker on the debate at the St. Gallen Cantonal Council. The first decisions in the long-awaited hospital debate will be made today Wednesday. You can read here what it is about, as well as the most important questions and answers.
