E-card breakdown in Vienna: Doctors and pharmacies on the verge of chaos!

E-card breakdown in Vienna: Doctors and pharmacies on the verge of chaos!

In Vienna today there were massive problems with the e-card system, which had already caused a stir in Linz. Various practices and pharmacies reported significant delays and system failures that directly affected patients in their care. Those affected reported hours of waiting and missing medications because pharmacists could not access the saved e-prescriptions. A Viennese general practitioner summed up the frustrating situation: “Today, digital progress has catapulted us back into the Stone Age.” today.at reported. Doctors had to switch to paper prescriptions, which not only meant additional work but also led to thwarted treatment options.

The official view of the umbrella organization of social insurance providers was appeasing, as they spoke of “only” extended response times from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and noted that it was possible to store e-prescriptions throughout. However, this representation was contradicted by the Vienna Medical Association, which stated that numerous doctors complained about slow systems and that normal operations could not be maintained in the pharmacies. This technical breakdown underlines the challenges of modern medical technology and the dependence on digital systems, as has historically been the everyday life of doctors and pharmacists in Vienna, which is documented in the publication by Hans Werner Bousska. This looks at the role of doctors, midwives and pharmacists in old Vienna and shows how important a stable, functioning medical infrastructure is for society kreismuseum.at.