[How does the German hospital reform affect cancer center certification?]

The German hospital reform aims to improve the quality of inpatient care in Germany, increase efficiency and ensure nationwide access. In oncology, the certification system has been improving the quality of care for over 20 years and now comprises more than 2000 certified centers, thereby combining specialization with nationwide coverage. While the quality ambitions of the reform were diluted during the legislative process, the WiZen study showed a survival benefit in certified centers across 11 cancer types. Initial experiences from North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) confirm that the reform primarily determines who may provide treatment. Treatment quality continues to be assessed through certification based on minimum case volumes and an extensive catalogue of requirements, the implementation of which is reviewed annually. Certification therefore remains an indispensable quality marker for patients and is more important than ever.