German Red Cross Faces Collapse as Hospitals Shut Down Amid Funding Crisis

A decade of broken promises has left Germany’s emergency services on the brink. Without €3.1B in immediate aid, the Red Cross may fail those who need it most.

, and Administrator

2025 December 4 . 7:04 PM

1 min read

This image is clicked on the roads. To the left, there is ambulance. To the right, there is a tent... — This image is clicked on the roads. To the left, there is ambulance. To the right, there is a tent under which many people are standing. There is also table and chair in the right of the image.

German Red Cross Faces Collapse as Hospitals Shut Down Amid Funding Crisis

Hermann Gröhe, president of the German Red Cross (DRK) since 2025, has warned of severe funding shortages in emergency services. The organization now needs €2.1 billion in immediate investment and an extra €1 billion each year to maintain civil protection and medical aid. His call comes as one in four DRK hospitals has collapsed into insolvency, leaving just 30 still running.

Gröhe, who previously served as Germany's health minister under Angela Merkel, has demanded dedicated funding for large-scale rescue operations. He also insists on keeping the sectoral exemption for emergency services, which allows them to operate without certain financial burdens. Despite a decade of government promises, only one in ten planned support modules for autonomous emergency care has received funding.

The German Red Cross faces a critical shortfall in funding, with hospitals closing and emergency services under pressure. Gröhe's demands for immediate investment and policy changes highlight the growing strain on both domestic and international aid operations. Without intervention, the organization's ability to respond to crises could weaken further.