Doctors demand binding heat protection measures in hospitals and practices

Current death toll in Germany

The background to the initiative is a Europe-wide heat period that has been placing additional strain on hospitals and practices for weeks. Emergency physicians report an increased number of heat-related emergencies, dehydrated patients, and circulatory crises. Care facilities are also reporting rising demands in the care of vulnerable groups.

Strain on hospitals and practices

The German Association of General Practitioners had previously already presented concrete heat health action plans for family practices. These include, among other things, changed consultation hours during the hot midday period, the purchase of cooling devices, and training of practice staff on heat-related risks. The association also demands that such plans should not remain voluntary but be anchored in regular care.

Demands of the General Practitioners' Association

In addition to the outpatient sector, investments in the building fabric of hospitals are also being called for. Doctors point out that many wards do not have sufficient shading, ventilation, or cooling. Some facilities have set up provisional emergency adjustment funds to quickly procure fans, blackout measures, and drinking water dispensers.

At the European level, the European Union has repeatedly warned in recent years about the consequences of rising temperatures for public health. The self-commitment now presented is intended to increase pressure on political decision-makers to create binding standards for heat protection in the healthcare sector. Industry experts see the appeal as a signal to the upcoming summit week on climate adaptation.

It remains unclear how the pledges are to be monitored. Critics point out that voluntary self-commitments have often fallen short of actual possibilities in the past. Measurable indicators, regular reports, and public financial participation in conversion measures are therefore being demanded.

Open questions on monitoring

Overall, the initiative makes clear that the healthcare sector increasingly sees itself as both a co-cause and a victim of climate change. The signatories emphasize that climate protection and patient protection are inseparably linked. Without binding requirements, the fear is that the number of heat-related deaths will continue to rise.

The debate comes at a time when several European countries are revising their climate adaptation strategies. In Germany, the establishment of a permanent fund for climate-resilient health infrastructure is also being discussed. Observers expect that the medical demands will feed into the ongoing consultations.