Statute of the Hospital Network (SSV) - Legal Nature, Name, and Registered Office (SSV)

1. According to the Hospital Association Act of September 22, 2002, an autonomous public law institution exists under the name "HOCH Health East Switzerland" with its headquarters in St. Gallen.

1. This statute regulates the organization of the hospital network.

1. Pursuant to [Art. 2bis](https://www.gesetzessammlung.sg.ch/data/320.2/de/art2bis) GSV, the hospital association operates the following inpatient hospital locations

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| a) | University Teaching and Research Hospital St.Gallen as a central hospital; | | |

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| b) | Expanded primary care hospital Grabs; | | |

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| c) | Primary care hospital Uznach; | | |

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| d) | Primary care hospital Wil. | | |

2. The primary care hospital Altstätten will also be operated as a hospital with an inpatient offering until its conversion into a health and emergency center.

3. The hospital locations pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 of this provision are facilities without separate legal personality.

1. The hospital network may operate health or emergency centers pursuant to Art. 4bis GSV and Art. 21ter of the Health Act of June 28, 1979.

2. The board of directors of the hospital network determines which facilities are operated as health or emergency centers.

3. The health or emergency centers may be operated as subsidiaries with their own legal personality.

1. The hospital network may, based on [Art. 4bis](https://www.gesetzessammlung.sg.ch/data/320.2/de/art4bis) GSV, provide additional outpatient services outside of the hospital infrastructure.

2. The board of directors of the hospital network determines these additional facilities operated as outpatient clinics.

3. The additional facilities may be operated as subsidiaries with their own legal personality.

**1. The Board of Directors is the supreme management body of the hospital association.**

**2. Within the framework of legal responsibilities, the Board of Directors is entrusted with the following areas of responsibility:**

**a) Strategy:**

1. Implementation of the owner's strategy and related reporting;

2. Adoption and coordination of the strategy of the hospital association;

3. Establishment of strategic partnerships;

**b) Service Delivery:**

1. Fulfillment of the service mandate;

2. Decision on the service offering;

3. Determination of the priorities for teaching and research;

4. Quality assurance;

**c) Finances:**

1. Regulation of financial competencies, accounting, planning and budgeting process, as well as controlling;

2. Decision on the budget and the annual financial statement;

3. Approval of financial and investment planning;

4. Resolutions on the tariffs of the hospital association and its subsidiaries;

**d) Personnel:**

1. Election of the management;

2. Supervision of the management;

**e) Hospital Facility Corporation: Approval of resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Hospital Facility Corporation according to Art. 17octies GSV.**

1. The Chairperson of the Board of Directors (President of the Board of Directors) leads its activities and its meetings.

2. He or she represents the Board of Directors externally within the scope of the Board's competencies unless the Board has delegated representation in a specific case to another member.

1. The Board of Directors shall appoint at least one Vice President.

2. In the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice President shall assume his or her duties.

3. If the Vice President is also unavailable, the Board of Directors shall appoint an interim replacement.

1. The Board of Directors may assign the preparation and execution of its resolutions or the supervision of transactions to committees or individual members.

1. The Board of Directors is represented by the Chairperson of the Board, collectively with one of the following

a) the Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors;

b) the Chairperson of the Executive Management of the Hospital Network;

c) the Secretary of the Board of Directors.

2. The Board of Directors may provide for different signing authorities in the Business and Organizational Regulations.

1. The composition of the executive management, its chairmanship, and the deputy chairmanship, as well as the individual members, are outlined in the business and organizational regulations.

1. The management is responsible for the operational conduct of business within the framework of [Art. 7](https://www.gesetzessammlung.sg.ch/data/320.2/de/art7) GSV and the guidelines set by the Board of Directors.

2. It holds the right to prepare and propose matters concerning tasks reserved for the Board of Directors according to Art. 6 para. 2 of this decree.

3. The management also fulfills all other tasks that are not assigned to the Board of Directors.

1. The management concludes agreements with third parties concerning the implementation of operational businesses within the management's area of responsibility.

2. The conclusion of other agreements, particularly those concerning tariffs or of strategic importance or political significance, is reserved for the Board of Directors.

3. The management represents the hospital network externally within its powers, subject to the representation powers of the Board of Directors.

1. For the management, the chairperson or the chairman signs collectively with another member of the management.

2. The Board of Directors may stipulate different signing authorities in the business and organizational regulations.

1. Auditor's Office is the Financial Control of the Canton of St. Gallen.

1. The Board of Directors issues rules of procedure and organizational regulations for the Board of Directors, its committees, and the executive management.

2. Subject to specific provisions of this decree, it particularly contains provisions

a) as rules of procedure for the Board of Directors on

1. Directive, information, and inspection rights of the members of the Board of Directors;

2. The inclusion of persons with advisory capacity and external experts;

3. The composition, tasks, and competencies of the committees;

4. The organization of the secretariat of the hospital association's Board of Directors;

b) concerning the executive management regarding

1. Composition and election procedure;

2. Chairmanship and substitution;

3. Details of duties according to Art. 12 of this decree;

c) for both bodies and their committees, particularly concerning

1. Information and communication;

2. Convening of meetings, meeting regulations, and record-keeping;

3. Decision-making, presidential orders, and procedures for circular resolutions.

1. The provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act of May 16, 1965, regarding disqualification are applied accordingly.

1. Departing Members of the Board of Directors and Management are required, as of the date of their departure, to return all business documents in their possession to the hospital association or to provide written confirmation that all electronic business data has been deleted and any other business documents have been properly disposed of.

2. They are also obliged to maintain confidentiality towards third parties regarding any knowledge acquired during their term of office, even after their departure.

1. Official Publication Organ of the Hospital Association for Official Announcements is the Official Gazette of the Canton of St. Gallen (Publication Platform) and, insofar as prescribed for public procurement, additionally the Information System on Public Procurement in Switzerland (SIMAP).

1. The following are published on the hospital network's website in particular

a) the statute;

b) the tax regulations and the tax tariffs.

1. Within the scope of the merger according to [Art. 24](https://www.gesetzessammlung.sg.ch/data/320.2/de/art24) GSV, the following are transferred into the existing hospital network Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen

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| a) | the hospital network "Hospital Region Rheintal Werdenberg Sarganserland" with the facilities Hospital Altstätten and Hospital Grabs; | | |

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| b) | the hospital network "Hospital Linth" with the facility Hospital Linth in Uznach; | | |

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| c) | the hospital network "Hospital Region Fürstenland Toggenburg" with the facility Hospital Wil. | | |

2. The existing hospital network Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen assumes under a new company name pursuant to Art. 1 of this decree, as of the effective date of the Fifth Amendment to the GSV[[9]](#paragraphtext_content_fn_500126_2_9_c), by merger, in particular all assets and liabilities of the three hospital networks according to para. 1 letters a-c of this provision.

3. The hospital network is responsible for preparing the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2024, and the 2024 annual reports of the former four hospital networks.