Germany is enduring a severe heatwave, with temperatures approaching 40°C across much of the country on 28 June 2026, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). The extreme conditions are straining public infrastructure — especially hospitals, which many experts say are poorly equipped to cope with prolonged high temperatures.
Hospitals Lacking Basic Cooling
According to the German Medical Association — the country’s largest professional medical body — only about one in three hospitals currently has air conditioning installed in standard patient wards. Suzanne Jona, the association’s president, told ZDF that while operating rooms, radiology departments, and most intensive care units are climate-controlled for technical and clinical safety reasons, general inpatient wards largely remain uncooled.
“This situation is clearly uncomfortable for hospital staff — but it’s even more distressing for patients,” Jona said. She noted that hospitals often ask relatives to bring ice packs from home to provide temporary relief — a stopgap measure highlighting deeper systemic gaps.
Health Risks Mount Under Extreme Heat
The absence of cooling isn’t just a matter of comfort. High temperatures can delay wound healing and exacerbate underlying health conditions, increasing risks for vulnerable patients. Jona emphasized that heat stress poses real clinical dangers — especially for elderly or chronically ill individuals.
Fans are not a simple alternative. Many healthcare professionals caution against their use in shared hospital spaces due to hygiene concerns — namely, the potential for fans to circulate airborne pathogens. Jona added that above 39°C, fans offer little benefit: rather than cooling the body, they simply move hot air around, potentially raising perceived temperature and discomfort.
Where used, fans are generally limited to low-risk areas like waiting rooms — never in wards where infection control is critical.