Merger aims to strengthen medical care and facilitate recruitment
On Wednesday (September 10), the city council of the science city of Darmstadt approved the merger of Klinikum Darmstadt GmbH and Agaplesion Elisabethenstift gGmbH into a joint holding company. The goal is to secure and expand medical care in Darmstadt in the long term.
In a first step, both partners will each contribute 60 percent of their shares to the new holding company (GGmbH). The holding company will then acquire the remaining shares. The new structure is scheduled to launch on January 1, 2026 .
Financial framework
The city council also decided to reduce the hospital's debt: the city will write off €20 million in working capital loans, and the city will also assume a €50 million annuity loan from WIBank. The new holding company's starting capital is €250,000, supplemented by €500,000 in liquid assets. In addition, both partners are to provide their hospitals with €10 million in liquidity each.
Division of tasks between the houses
- The Darmstadt Hospital will remain a maximum care provider and will, among other things, take over the central emergency room.
- The Elisabethenstift focuses on psychosomatics, psychiatry, dermatology, ophthalmology, geriatrics, palliative medicine and outpatient surgery.
Quote from the city leaders
Mayor Hanno Benz and City Treasurer André Schellenberg emphasize:
"The partners are pursuing the goal of significantly improving the quality of medical care in Darmstadt. The shared corporate culture will be aligned with the cultural identity and specific strengths of both partners. Together, the challenge of employee retention and recruitment can also be better met."
Impact on employees
Jobs are to be secured: The hospital and Elisabethenstift will refrain from compulsory redundancies in connection with the merger for five years. In the long term, an alignment of working conditions is planned – based on the collective agreement for the public sector (TVöD) and the Marburger Bund wage agreements.
Next Steps
The merger will now be discussed by the Main and Finance Committee on September 18, and the City Council on September 25. Funding totaling €92 million has been requested, and a positive decision is expected.
(Darmstadt - Red/PSD/Stip)
