Power outage in Berlin massively burdened the healthcare system

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The large-scale power outage in southwestern Berlin has revealed fundamental weaknesses in critical infrastructure, according to the German Hospital Association (DKG). “The recent events highlighted the vulnerability of our general infrastructure,” a DKG spokesperson explained upon request. This applies not only to attacks on the power supply but also to “drone overflights of airports or cyberattacks.”

“Therefore, it is not enough for hospitals to be resilient on their own,” as clinics are “absolutely dependent on a functioning overall infrastructure,” according to the DKG. If the power supply fails on a large scale, it has “direct consequences for care.” While hospitals usually have emergency power generators, these only ensure “basic supply for a limited time”; a complete, regular operation cannot be “permanently guaranteed” with them. Resilience is therefore “a task for society as a whole.”

An expert report commissioned by the DKG shows that investments of around 2.7 billion euros are necessary solely for protection against cyberattacks and sabotage. “If possible war scenarios are also considered, the investment requirement in the event of an alliance increases to almost 5 billion euros, and in the event of defense, even to 14 to 15 billion euros.” The current geopolitical situation and the attack in Berlin make it clear that “resilience and security must permanently be an integral part of hospital structures.” They are “an essential and existential component of national public services.”

Practices also affected

Outpatient medical care was also severely affected. According to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV) Berlin, 205 doctor's and psychotherapy practices were located in the power outage area, predominantly general practices. This was reported by the Deutsches Ärzteblatt. The KV is examining, among other things, damage caused by failed cooling of medications and vaccines, as well as possible frost damage. Some practices had set up a limited emergency operation for their regular patients.

Additional emergency service

To ensure care, the KV Berlin had opened its emergency service practice at Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin on two additional days, according to dpa. The mobile house visit service of the medical on-call service remained in operation. At the same time, according to dpa, there were delays because traffic problems, failed doorbells, and non-functioning elevators made access to patients difficult.

Impact on pharmacies

Pharmacies were also affected by the blackout. As the Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung reports, several pharmacies in southwestern Berlin were without power. Some had to close, while others improvised to maintain operations – for example, by manually documenting medication dispensing or by moving refrigerated medications. Individual pharmacies were able to continue working thanks to their emergency power systems and temporarily became points of contact for residents.

Care facilities affected

The power outage has also triggered a broader debate about population protection. DRK President Hermann Gröhe lamented, according to dpa, a lack of investment in civil and disaster protection. The chairman of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, Andreas Gassen, also warned that the healthcare system is not adequately prepared for major crisis or attack scenarios.

In the end, care comes into focus. The massive power outage has made serious deficits in population protection visible, according to the German Nursing Council, especially regarding people in need of care and their relatives. “When the power goes out, it's about the existence, safety, and care of many people in need of care,” said DPR President Christine Vogler. Although the 74 affected care facilities are now supplied with electricity again, the incident has shown how dependent care is on functioning infrastructure – from electricity for ventilators and aids to heating and medication, and the accessibility of outpatient services.

The situation was particularly burdensome for people receiving home care and their relatives and caregivers. In many households, the responsibility suddenly fell to a few individuals, sometimes without adequate information or accessible support. The Nursing Council therefore calls for nursing expertise and the perspective of family caregivers to be systematically integrated into population protection and for corresponding structures to be permanently anchored.

(mack)