2023-09-20 15:56:48
The Montana High Altitude Clinic was opened in 1952. (Image: Luks)
The Lucerne Mountain Clinic Montana may soon have a new owner. The canton and the Lucerne Cantonal Hospital want to sell the clinic to a private Swiss hospital network.
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Editorial team centralplus
The rehabilitation center high above the Valais Rhone Valley might soon no longer be in Lucerne’s hands. The Lucerne Höhenklinik Montana, a subsidiary of Luzerner Kantonsspital AG (Luks Group), is to be sold. The canton of Lucerne, which owns the property, announced this in a letter dated Wednesday evening. The government council, together with the board of directors of the Luks Group, decided to sell the building and the clinic operations to Swiss Medical Network.
The purchase price was set at 12.5 million francs, as can be seen from the letter. The clinic was opened in 1952 and has belonged to the Canton of Lucerne ever since. In 1994 and 1997 the clinic was renovated for 27 million francs. “The infrastructure of the Lucerne Mountain Clinic Montana is no longer up to date and would have to be renovated once more,” writes the canton. “Due to the need for investment, the government council and the board of directors of the Luks Group have decided to sell the properties and the clinic operations.”
At least two years of security for employees
The government writes that a suitable buyer was found with Swiss Medical Network. The purchase is subject to conditions. The buyer must continue to operate the center as a clinic and grant the approximately 140 employees ownership of the employment conditions for at least two years.
“The provision of rehabilitation for the Lucerne population will continue to be well guaranteed even following LHM is sold,” the government states.
Michaela Tschuor, head of the Lucerne Health and Social Department, can be quoted as follows in the statement: “With the completion of the sale, we have found a future-oriented solution that continues to focus on the patient, a sustainable further development of the clinic and prospects for them employees and thus serves everyone involved. The clinic will continue to be listed on the hospital list of the Canton of Lucerne and is therefore still open to patients from the Canton of Lucerne.”
Takeover by 2025 at the latest
According to the government, Swiss Medical Network is the only private Swiss hospital network that is represented in all language regions and now includes 21 hospitals and clinics as well as over 60 medical centers. «We are aware that the prospect of a change in ownership raises questions and expectations for the clinic and especially the staff. Together with the LHM employees, we will discuss this process in dialogue over the next few months,” says Raymond Loretan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Swiss Medical Network.
In order to be able to process the sale, the Lucerne Hospital Act must be adjusted and the property must be transferred from administrative assets to financial assets. The government writes that the cantonal council should deal with the business in the first half of 2024. The takeover of the business and the properties should then take place by January 1, 2025 at the latest.
The clinic offers medical rehabilitation. According to the company’s own information, 795 inpatients and 1,175 outpatients were cared for in 2022. On average, 66 beds were operated.
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