Austria needs reforms: Samaritan Association demands a clear change of course!

Austria needs reforms: Samaritan Association demands a clear change of course!

The Samaritan Association has urgently called on the new federal government to initiate immediate reforms in the health and social services. At a time when Austria is facing a growing number of challenges in care and disaster relief, the Federal Managing Director of the Samaritan Association, Reinhard Hundsmüller, is calling for a fundamental redesign of the existing structures and a comprehensive reform in the care sector. “Austria can no longer afford to stand still,” said Hundsmüller, who presented five central demands in order to effectively deal with the pressing problems. This includes the development and expansion of a sustainable care infrastructure as well as strengthening disaster protection in order to be able to react quickly to emergencies, such as ots.at reported.

Challenges and successes

The year 2024 was particularly challenging for the Samaritan Association, marked by rising costs and a decline in donations. Despite these difficulties, the organization was able to successfully maintain its social mission, as Hundsmüller points out. “We can be proud that we were able to continue to provide all services at the highest level, be it emergency services, disaster relief or social projects,” he explains. It was also announced that the Samaritan Association was once again recognized as a “Popular Employer 2024” for its achievements in the social and health sectors. This shows how much the population appreciates the commitment of the Samaritans and how important this organization is for the people in Austria samariterbund.net further reported.

Hundsmüller also points out the urgent need for a strong support network and calls on politicians not to abandon organizations like the Samaritan Association. The focus on creating stable framework conditions is now more necessary than ever to ensure continued social work in the country. The five reform demands formulated are intended to encourage experts and decision-makers to immediately develop a policy that focuses on the well-being of the people in Austria.