German Hospitals Need €31 Billion to Beat the Heat as Heat-Related Deaths Surpass 9,800
Published on 07/30/2026 at 18:41 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
Germany’s hospitals are facing a staggering €31 billion bill to protect patients and staff from rising temperatures, the country’s hospital association warned this week, as new data shows heat-related deaths have already exceeded the annual totals of every year since 2016.
The German Hospital Association (DKG) said the sum is needed to retrofit clinics nationwide with modern cooling systems, insulation, and ventilation. The call comes after a late-June heatwave pushed thermometers past 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the country.
“Hospitals need concrete support for modern cooling technology,” said DKG board member Gerald Gaß, who criticized state governments for covering only around 60 percent of the required investment costs.
The scale of the problem is laid bare by figures from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany’s public health agency. As of July 19, 2026, the RKI had recorded roughly 9,800 heat-related deaths — a number that already surpasses the annual totals for every single year since 2016. More than half of the victims, 5,420, were aged 85 or older.
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The Social Association of Germany (SoVD) accused public institutions of failing to provide adequate protection. The group is calling for binding national standards for hospitals, nursing homes, and schools, including mandatory air conditioning, universal access to drinking water, and dedicated cooling rooms.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann admitted that hospitals are not uniformly air-conditioned. Many facilities rely on makeshift solutions such as cooling vests, shower stretchers, and fans. The state’s hospital association estimates the investment backlog for building renovations alone at €6.3 billion, with an additional €460 million needed for climate and ventilation systems.
Since 2021, the state has directed roughly one-third of its annual €700 million hospital budget toward climate protection measures. Laumann also announced a new heat-action system: once heat warning level 2 is triggered, facilities must automatically activate protection plans. The RKI recorded around 1,230 heat-related deaths in North Rhine-Westphalia through June 28.
Regional disparities are stark. Leipzig’s St. Elisabeth Hospital has already equipped 70 percent of its rooms with cooling ceilings, while other clinics rely on shading and ventilation due to a lack of alternatives. The Saxony Hospital Association puts the state’s heat-protection needs at roughly €100 million.
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DKG deputy chair Henriette Neumeyer highlighted the strain on both patients and healthcare workers. An IQVIA study suggests heatstroke can increase the risk of migraines and strokes. The World Health Organization reports that Europe saw more than 200,000 heat-related deaths over the past four years.
The Verdi trade union is demanding a €125 million emergency package for nursing care, arguing that heat-related illnesses often lead to longer and more intensive hospital stays for patients.
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