Munich (dpa / lby) - Bavaria wants to continue to strengthen local obstetrics and postpartum care by midwives in the coming years. For this reason, a corresponding funding program has been extended by a further three years, the Ministry of Health announced on Sunday in Munich. The Free State spends 28 million euros on this every year.
According to the ministry, rural districts and urban districts receive a subsidy of up to 40 euros for each newborn in order to improve midwifery care. Up to five million euros are available for this every year. A further 23 million euros per year are intended to help compensate for deficits in smaller obstetric wards in rural areas once these have established themselves as the main provider in their region.
"In recent years we have been able to support more than 30 hospitals whose obstetric services would otherwise have been at risk for economic reasons, explained Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU). "The distances, especially in rural areas, must not be too far!"
