ÖGK warns 900 million euros in loss: Doctors worry!

ÖGK warns 900 million euros in loss: Doctors worry!

The ÖGK has alarming news for 2024: a minus of around 900 million euros is imminent, which forces the health insurance company to take drastic measures. In order to counter this financial challenge, the ÖGK calls for doctors to review transfers to CT and MRI examinations more sharply. According to the ORF report, an increase in expenses for these diagnostic procedures is expected by around 14 percent, which results in additional costs of around 30 million euros.

In a letter to the doctors, the ÖGK emphasizes that ordination assistants should no longer issue transfers to patient request. This leads to great uncertainty among doctors and patients who do not understand why, despite years of deposits in the social system, they now have difficulty using benefits. The Medical Association immediately reacted to the message and criticized the fact that the measures exert unnecessary pressure on the medical and patient setting. The Medical Association advocates finding digital solutions in order to implement possible savings without loss of quality.

Criticism of oversupply in the health system

In parallel to the financial challenges in Austria, studies from Germany also show that unnecessary medical services put a heavy burden on the health system. Scientists from the Technical University of Berlin have determined that unnecessary treatments and transfers cost millions every year. It is estimated that in Germany about 4 to 10.4 percent of medical services, such as the prescription of antibiotics for light respiratory infections or unnecessary imaging in back pain, are classified as medically worthless.

This oversupply has immense costs, which are estimated in Germany at around 10 to 15 million euros annually. The treating doctors are often under great time pressure, which can cause them to arrange superfluous treatments instead of having explanatory discussions. Contrary to the opinion that more investigations mean better health, the results are worrying and raise questions about the efficiency of the German health system, especially in view of the high expenditure compared to life expectancy.

According to ORF, the ÖGK will take strict measures. In addition, studies by the Technical University of Berlin and the Central Institute for Statutory Health Insurance have shown that the oversupply in both Austria and Germany urgently needs to be tackled. The results are alarming and do not offer space for further delays or misunderstandings in the health sector. The study contradicts the idea that medical services are always advantageous.