Health costs –
The Children’s Hospital will squeeze the CHUV’s finances
By 2026, the building’s operating costs will be 25 million francs higher than expected. A new puzzle to solve.
Posted today at 7:56 a.m.
Synthetic image of the future Children’s Hospital, at the time of the project presentation.
KEYSTONE/GMP – JB Ferrari
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- The operating costs of the new Children’s Hospital will exceed by 25 million francs what was envisaged in 2013.
- Inflation and changes in security standards would explain this gap.
- A budgetary extension of 18 million is requested from the Grand Council.
- The opening of the new building will make it possible to develop certain non-pediatric but lucrative activities.
The new Children’s Hospital (NHE) at CHUV will cost more than expected. By 2026 (the inauguration is planned for spring 2025), operating costs will be 25 million francs higher than what was envisaged during the parliamentary debates on the project in 2013. It is the RTS which indicates it, relaying in passing the criticisms of certain deputies, annoyed at being presented with a fait accompli.
“The first EMPD (editor’s note: explanatory memorandum and draft decree) dates from 2013 and a lot of things have changed since then, defends the communications department of the university hospital. At the time, inflation was low to non-existent. Today it has increased significantly, partly because of the energy crisis linked to the war in Ukraine. This led to a widespread increase in prices, including wages, construction materials, equipment and energy, which was underestimated. Furthermore, quality and safety standards in hospitals have been strengthened over the years, which has generated additional costs that were difficult to predict in 2013.”
In a particularly complicated financial situation – and symbolized by the implementation of a “return to balance plan” – the CHUV would not be able to cover all these additional charges, again according to the RTS.
“The costs linked to the new Children’s Hospital represent approximately 1% of the CHUV’s total expenses, which amount to nearly 2 billion francs. Currently, revenues cover 99.3% of expenses, which generates an overall deficit of 15 million francs forecast for 2025,” the institution’s communication simply responds.
Recipes outside pediatrics
To cope, an additional 18 million francs must come from the Grand Council. And for the rest? There will be “no significant impact on equipment at the moment” and staffing adjustments “will depend on the gradual ramp-up of activities”. The CHUV assures us that the NHE missions will not suffer from the situation and the support will be “of very high quality”.
The RTS also underlined that management intends to take advantage of the new hospital to generate additional revenue outside of pediatrics. “Its opening will free up space in other buildings, in particular to reinforce adult activities such as MRIs or surgical interventions,” confirms the communications department. The NHE was designed for pediatrics but in the interest of optimizing infrastructure, certain temporarily available spaces could be used for strategic or complementary activities. These discussions are ongoing but the priority remains the pediatric mission of the new hospital.”
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Romaric Haddou has been a journalist in the Vaud and regions section since 2016. He covers the health sector in particular.More info
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