From 30-Hour Nursing Weeks to Gold-Standard Hygiene: Healthcare’s Latest Moves in Germany and Switzerland

The Bremerhaven health authority will introduce a part-time nursing training model with a 30-hour work week starting in October, aiming to make the profession more accessible. An information afternoon on July 1 will detail the program, with childcare provided. The move comes as clinics across Germany and Switzerland experiment with flexible curricula, cross-border partnerships, and digital leadership to address persistent staffing shortages.

In Frankfurt, the SRH Fachschulen now offer a two-year social assistance training track. Students can simultaneously earn the Fachhochschulreife, the entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences, broadening the pipeline into social professions.

Cross-Regional Cooperation Gains Traction

The Canton of Luzern is strengthening pathways between higher vocational education and universities of applied sciences. Education authorities, universities, and the Berufsbildungs-Interessengemeinschaft signed a declaration of intent to improve permeability. Roughly 30 joint projects in health, social services, and hospitality are already underway.

In Brandenburg, the Medizinische Universität Lausitz and the Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg signed a cooperation agreement on June 24. The partnership focuses on training general practitioners for rural areas, a longstanding gap in Germany’s healthcare delivery.

Specialized Training and Policy Support

In the Canton of Schwyz, politicians are scrutinizing the quality of curative education (Heilpädagogik). The Cantonal Council approved a postulate that would provide financial support for teachers pursuing part-time further training. The backdrop: at the beginning of 2026, 163 people were working in this field without formal qualifications.

A different kind of specialization is thriving in Ansbach, Bavaria. The Klinikum Ansbach and the Ansbach University of Applied Sciences have collaborated on the biomedical engineering program for 15 years. Currently, 15 students are pursuing an interdisciplinary curriculum that spans intensive care and radiation therapy.

Digital Leadership and Infection Control

The Luzerner Kantonsspital is boosting its digital capabilities. Dr. Benjamin Hess will take over as Chief Medical Information Officer on October 1, tasked with advancing the Epic electronic health record system and telemedicine services.

Meanwhile, the Hirslanden Kliniken in Zurich achieved the Gold-Zertifikat from the Aktion Saubere Hände campaign for 2026/2027. Hospital officials say they are the first facilities in Switzerland to receive this highest distinction for hand hygiene.

IT security was the subject of a recent expert discussion at the Bethanien Krankenhaus in Moers. Participants examined the Patientendaten-Schutzgesetz (Patient Data Protection Act), the EU’s NIS2 Directive, and risk management strategies for hospital IT systems.

en | boerse | 69632946 |