After the unsuccessful negotiations with Fides on the introduction of austerity measures to reduce doctors' overtime pay, it became clear in the first days of September how urgently needed structural changes in the health network are, in particular, to ensure the conditions for the sustainability of the health budget. It is essential that hospital managements make a realistic assessment of the capacities at their disposal and the extent to which they can normally provide their services in relation to their own staffing levels. A restructuring programme should be drawn up in all health care institutions and a realistic timeframe should be set for the transition period in terms of staffing or the closure or merging of hospital departments. Health insurance should make it clear as soon as possible that it will not recognise disproportionate increases in hospital bed-times for services provided by hospitals.