Budapest hospitals face internal medicine capacity crisis

Budapest is facing a critical shortage in internal medicine hospital capacity, with approximately 750 patients currently unable to be placed in appropriate wards. This shortage is impacting emergency departments, as they are unable to transfer patients requiring admission to specialized internal medicine units.

Health Minister Zsolt Hegedűs stated that the crisis is not caused by a sudden surge in patient numbers, but rather by reduced capacity due to severe shortages of doctors and nurses. Additionally, about one-third of internal medicine beds are occupied by chronic patients who no longer require active hospital treatment but cannot be discharged due to social reasons or long-term care needs. Among those needing placement, nearly 200 are reportedly homeless.

Other contributing factors include a calicivirus outbreak at the Flór Ferenc Hospital in Kistarcs. In response, the Ministry of Health, the National Hospital Directorate, and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Family have initiated emergency coordination to assess available resources and synchronize hospital cooperation. Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony noted that the city's homeless hospital is contributing 20 plus beds to help resolve the crisis.