Wir überwinden Grenzen

With this certification, the German Network of Smoke-Free Hospitals has recognized the smoke-free strategy of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg as a tobacco-free hospital

A milestone has been reached: The Medical Center - University of Freiburg has been certified as a smoke-free hospital in bronze. This certificate is awarded as part of the "smoke-free plus" program of the German Network of Smoke-free Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities (DNRfK) in accordance with international standards. The online audit for certification took place in August. The hospital's existing smoke-free strategy met with great approval from the experts - and was recognized with a bronze certificate.

New signs point out the pavilions for smokers

The Medical Center - University of Freiburg has been a member of the DNRfK since 2007. In order to obtain bronze certification, personnel and financial resources have already been provided in the past for free smoking counseling for employees by the addiction counseling center for employees and for free smoking counseling and therapy for patients by the smoking prevention team of the Tumor Center CCCF. The implementation of the tobacco-free strategy also means that the University Hospital has refrained from accepting funding from the tobacco industry since 2021. The sale of tobacco products on the premises is also not permitted.

In addition, smoking has only been permitted in pavilions at all Medical Center - University of Freiburg sites for several years now. These have been set up on the grounds specifically for this purpose. As part of the bronze certification, the old no-smoking signs on the hospital grounds are currently being gradually replaced. In future, newly designed signs with a friendly tone will make employees, patients and visitors to the Medical Center - University of Freiburg aware of the need to use the pavilions for smoking.

Promoting the health of employees and patients

Smoking is one of the greatest avoidable health risks in the western world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set the goal of reducing the number of smoking-related illnesses in Europe to below five percent by 2040. The University Hospital would therefore like to set an example in tobacco prevention and also promote the health of its employees and patients in this area and support them in quitting smoking. The range of addiction counseling and prevention services for employees and the smoking cessation services for patients are to be further expanded in the future.