Munich – October 29, 2026 -- Patients facing a serious diagnosis can now check 1,768 recommended specialist clinics across 57 medical fields and conditions, from ophthalmology to dentistry, in the new FOCUS-Gesundheit "Klinikliste 2027". The recommendations are available in the print issue and online through the FOCUS-Gesundheit clinic search.
Four weighted criteria decide who makes the list
The research behind the list draws on data from 1,577 public hospitals and 13,980 specialist clinics. FOCUS-Gesundheit developed the method with the research institute FactField. It rests on more than 40 public sources plus a clinic survey with questionnaires tailored to each specialty.
One key source is the legally required structured quality reports. They contain case numbers for specific diagnoses and therapies, plus structural figures such as staff numbers. Certificates from medical societies, doctor recommendations and patient reviews are added.
Four criteria feed into the evaluation, each weighted differently:
- Medical score: case numbers, equipment, range of services, quality certificates and the number of recommended physicians at the clinic
- Reputation: standing among doctors, other clinics and patients
- Nursing standard: nursing services, staffing ratio of nurses to patients, and nurse training
- Hygiene standard: presence and extent of hygiene measures
Inclusion in the list is free and cannot be bought. Private clinics are not required to publish quality reports, so a direct comparison with public hospitals is not possible. They appear in separate FOCUS-Gesundheit lists.
Hospital ranking now splits into four size categories
For the first time, the ranking of Germany's top hospitals is divided into small, medium and large hospitals, plus university hospitals. A hospital's placement depends on how many recommended specialist clinics it has and how many top physicians work there, based on the FOCUS Doctors List 2026.
Editorial focus: teamwork across specialties
The issue's editorial section covers interdisciplinary medicine. In tumor boards, specialists from different fields jointly decide which therapy suits a person with cancer. The magazine describes an obesity center in Freiburg where surgery, diabetology, nutrition medicine and exercise therapy shape long-term treatment together. Further articles cover advances in cancer immunotherapy and new approaches to arthrosis that may delay artificial joint replacement.
Nursing home list covers care after discharge
The issue also looks at the transition to outpatient care and nursing. A recommendation list for inpatient nursing homes, published in July, helps with finding a care facility. A QR code in the current issue leads readers to the digital list of top nursing homes.