Hospital workers take part in a mass protest

On 25 September 2008 approximately 130,000 hospital workers took part in a mass protest at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The protest was aimed at government plans to reduce funding for local hospitals. The health policy protest was the largest of its kind. Several hospitals reportedly paid their staff to attend the protest. Opponents of the protest argue that hospitals in Germany need more competition to improve, not more funding. No violence or injuries were reported.