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Health debate in the Vienna state parliament: FPÖ demands priority for Austrians!
FPÖ calls for reforms in Vienna's overburdened health system. The state parliament meeting on April 17, 2025 discusses patient priorities.
Health debate in the Vienna state parliament: FPÖ demands priority for Austrians!
The 40th session of the Vienna State Parliament on April 17, 2025 was dominated by the tense situation in the Austrian health system. The debate was started by the FPÖ with the topic “Priority of Austrian patients over illegal immigrants! – Target control health (15a B-VG), system change for Vienna!” initiated. StR Dominik Nepp (FPÖ) sharply criticized the conditions in the city's hospitals and described the health system as a "heap of shambles". He blamed the SPÖ for the ongoing deficiencies in health care.
Particularly alarming are the long waiting times, which range from a year to more, for certain treatments or operations, such as tonsil operations. At the same time, Nepp complained about a lack of staff and financial bottlenecks in the health insurance funds. In a request four years ago, between 750 and 850 beds in the WIGEV hospitals were already closed. Another critical point remains unmentioned with the Floridsdorf clinic, which is not in full operation despite opening in 2016. The overload of doctors and nursing staff in city facilities is a key concern.
Criticism and suggestions for reform
The FPÖ urgently calls for reforms and supports reports from doctors about the abuses in the healthcare system. Nepp spoke out in favor of investing more in health infrastructure and setting priorities for Austrian citizens. This also includes criticism of the high costs of interpreting services and the treatment of foreigners in outpatient clinics.
In contrast, Labor Party Dolores Bakos (NEOS) took the FPÖ to task and accused it of populist approaches. Instead of pure criticism, she called for solutions and the expansion of primary care centers to ensure better care for patients. Your party is also committed to mental health projects.
| demands | party |
|---|---|
| Priority for citizens in the health system | FPÖ |
| Expansion of primary care centers | NEOS |
| Structural solutions in the health sector | GREENS |
| Reform ideas for WIGEV | ÖVP |
The LAbg. Dr. Jennifer Kickert (GREEN) also called for urgent structural solutions to address the ongoing problems in the health sector. She advocated for more financial resources for health insurance offices and the further expansion of primary care centers. There was agreement that long-term solutions must be found to both improve the quality of care and minimize the burden on healthcare workers.
Current developments and forecasts
The ongoing challenges in the Austrian healthcare system are not new. As in socialminister.gv.at Austria's healthcare system was analyzed for the fourth time in 2019. It became clear that the control system, which has been introduced since 2013, is in need of fundamental reform.
One of the main criticisms concerns the lack of statutory health insurance doctor positions and the shortage of staff in the health sector. There are hundreds of vacancies not only in hospitals but also among statutory health insurance physicians. In its election manifesto, the FPÖ lists measures such as “organizing patient flows” and “fair pay for nursing staff” to counteract the delicate situation. The Ministry of Health assumes that the need for nursing staff could rise to 51,000 by 2030.
The seats in the Vienna state parliament are continuing to address these alarming developments and the corresponding reform proposals in order to ensure long-term improvements in health care for all citizens. Current health expenditure will amount to 52.28 million euros in 2023, which corresponds to around 11% of GDP.