Germany health sector urged to adopt heat‑resilience standards

The German Physicians' Association (ÄKWL) President Dr. Hans‑Albert Gehle called for binding standards and a joint federal‑state investment program to make hospitals, medical practices and care facilities resilient to heat waves. Proposed measures include minimum building, technical and organisational standards such as shading, ventilation, water supply and room cooling, with funding drawn from the federal transformation fund for hospital reforms.

A separate study by Dr. Alexandra Schneider of the Helmholtz Centre Munich found that extreme heat raises the risk of stroke by about seven percent, especially among older women, and also increases the likelihood of heart rhythm disorders and heart attacks. The Robert Koch Institute estimated that over 5,000 heat‑related deaths occurred in Germany by the end of June, highlighting the need for public information and preventive health measures during heat periods.