Germany’s healthcare industry calls for more heat protection for patients and employees

Healthcare industry associations have called for more money for heat protection in hospitals and nursing homes in Germany, as average temperatures continue to rise and current protections are no longer adequate, reported news network RND. The German Hospital Federation (DKG) called for a multi-year investment programme of 31 billion euros to make healthcare institutions more climate resilient.

“Partly due to the inadequate funding situation, most clinics do not have air conditioning or similarly effective cooling systems,” DKG deputy head Henriette Neumeyer told RND. Eugen Brysch, chairman of the German Foundation for Patient Protection, called for Germany’s health and environment ministers to “make binding investment commitments for the retrofitting of medical and nursing facilities before the end of this year”.

Heat waves pose the greatest health risk caused by the climate crisis in Germany, with over 3,000 people dying every summer due to high temperatures. Germany experienced its hottest year on record in 2024, for the third year in a row. In 2023, the government introduced a heat action plan aimed at preventing excess mortality linked to high temperatures. As a result of climate change, the number of hot days exceeding 30 degrees Celsius is increasing in Germany and last for longer periods, as are so-called tropical nights, during which temperatures do not fall below 20°C.

Germany has made it legally binding to draw up climate risk assessments and implement measures to better deal with increasing periods of heavy rain, high heat and more frequent flooding. Recommendations put forward in 2024 by Germany's health and resilience expert council, an independent government advisory panel, included anchoring health, climate and environment in all government departments and ministries.