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POLICY: EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT
The end of Independent hospitals?
Nowadays, it is quite common for consulting firms to point
out that independent hospitals would not survive in the near
future. Only big hospital companies and hospital
associations would stand the competition and participate in
the market – the larger, the better. This prediction is not
confirmed by the past European development. A
competitor’s size alone is not a guarantee for good business.
Mergers often cause more problems than expected – just
remember the huge problems after the merger of
Daimler/Chrysler or BMW and Rover. The small and flexible
competitors usually beat the large and slow ones in a free
market economy.
On the other hand, the disadvantages of smaller
companies – certainly a minimum size has to be
presupposed – can be outweighed by co-operating with
other small companies. Co-operation has priority over
mergers! Of course, it is important for a hospital to what
degree its employees stand by their employer. The more they
identify themselves with their hospital, the better are the
results. This identification is essential in independent,
harmonious and small hospitals.
Scenario 2010
We expect an increase of competition between the European
hospitals, for example in acquiring foreign patients for
medical treatment. Especially in border areas (‘Euregios’) the
linkage of patient supply, medical treatment and coordinated
services will become more important. Thus, let us
view particularly the northern and eastern EU borders,
especially Germany and Austria, but also the Scandinavian
countries. New forms of exchange will arise which are visible
even now in bilateral communication. The extension of the
European Union brings out other standards to the public
health policy, as well for the new member states as for the
old EU countries.
In Germany, the isolation of health sectors will get less
strong, and therefore an adjustment to the other European
countries will take place. The specialisation within the
European Union countries will increase, with respect both
to hospitals and established physicians. The increasing
mobility of the people in Europe and the increasing use of
the Internet will extend the demand for excellent
achievements served by the ‘best’. In Europe, supra-national
medical-centres of progress, like technological and scientific
research institutes, will develop. Quality will become much
more important than it is now because of sound
comparisons of quality, which are easily accessible via
Internet.
The economic situation of hospitals depends completely
on the general economic development of the Common
Market. This applies even more to the new European Union
countries which have – from a today’s point of view – an
enormous pent-up demand in medical achievements and in
medical technology. The large European countries already
stand up for an intensified competition in the area of
medical innovation. The international comparison does not
only promote a kind of patient tourism from foreign
countries, but also creates new jobs and produces a strong
foundation for medical and medical-technical progress in the
respective countries. ❑
18 | World Hospitals and Health Services | Vol. 40 No. 4