Obwalden’s hospital future hinges on a high-stakes November 30 vote
Obwalden voters will face a crucial decision on November 30, 2025, as they vote on the future of their cantonal election. The government has proposed merging it with the LUKS Group to secure its long-term sustainability. The merger aims to safeguard high-quality healthcare in Sarnen, particularly for complex procedures, by achieving necessary patient volumes within the network.
The Obwalden Cantonal Hospital currently serves around 35,000 potential patients but needs at least 70,000 to operate profitably. The hospital has been receiving increasing subsidies from the canton's coffers to stay afloat. The merger aims to address this financial strain and ensure the hospital's long-term future. All parties in the cantonal parliament support the merger plan, but the final decision rests with the voters.
The Sarnen site will not be relocated and will continue providing basic care and a 24/7 emergency department. Specific service mandates for certain departments will be phased out to allow for efficient resource allocation within the network. Under the new hospital law, Obwalden would retain 40% of the shares in the merged entity, with LUKS Group holding the remaining 60%. Cost efficiencies are expected, especially in areas like IT, where a small hospital faces the same requirements as a large one.
Voters will decide on the hospital law alongside an Education Act and a Health Insurance Act on November 30. The initiator of the inheritance tax referendum remains unknown, as search results do not contain this information.
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