Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Brussels’ public hospitals are merging to improve financial stability and working conditions, addressing a €69 million loss. The merger aims to attract more doctors and enhance healthcare services.
It has been reported that the new hospital, with a new name, will be run from one place for finances and operations. It will have about 6,000 workers and 1,100 beds in six areas in Anderlecht, Brussels, Etterbeek, the Ixelles, and Saint-Gilles. The staff who will be affected already know about the plan, and no one is expected to leave. The merger also wants to improve working conditions. Michelle Dusart, the Medical Director of CHU Saint-Pierre, said, “By making bigger services, we will be more appealing. We’ll hire more doctors and improve the lives of healthcare workers, especially during their shifts.
Brussels hospitals face financial crisis: merger proposed?
It was found that Brussels’ public hospitals lost almost €69 million, as reported by Le Soir. The report said public health is having a hard time because of money issues, prices, and staff shortages, for example. The mayors say the money issues are caused by needed investments and pension costs. Brussels Mayor Philippe Close said, “We can balance things out with this merger.” Close asked to speak with the Health Minister to transfer the old pension expenses from cities. He also wanted more money for hospitals from the government. Le Soir said the funds given only paid 22% of the costs in 2023. More mergers of public hospitals are not planned in the city. They want doctors to focus on their work first. But in hospitals, things can always change.
