Crisis in the Viennese healthcare system: lack of doctors at risk!

Crisis in the Viennese healthcare system: lack of doctors at risk!

Wien, Österreich - The Medical Association has urged: The Austrian health system is facing a serious supply. In many cases, patients are currently experiencing only “three-minute medicine”, with individual grant becoming increasingly in short supply. An alarming state, as the Medical Association Vice President Naghme Kamaleyan smith emphasized in a press release. It urged the next government to reform and "reanimate" the health system and the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK). According to current data, more than 54 health insurance bodies in Vienna alone are vacant, while demand has increased enormously due to population growth, since the number of health insurance doctors has dropped by twelve percent.

In order to meet this dilemma, the medical association suggests a number of reforms: more telemedicine, binding patient steering and structural reforms in order to make cash contracts more attractive. In addition, the financial problem of the ÖGK was addressed, which, according to ÖGK chairman Andreas Huss, could even lead to bankruptcy of the regional health insurance in the worst cases, a scenario that is worrying, like wien.gv.at illustrates. The demand that the public health system will be further developed is reflected in the new Vienna city government, which has set itself the goal of securing accessible health care for all residents, regardless of social factors.

health care under pressure

Viennese health policy aims to not only strengthen curative care, but also to promote preventive measures. The Covid 19 pandemic has also disclosed the weaknesses and strengths of the system, which underlines the need for sustainable reforms and close cooperation across various carrier systems. The Viennese progress coalition has launched projects to ensure modern health care and to meet the actually increased demands of the population.

Another central element is the training offensive that is necessary to meet the growing needs in the health and care sector. In view of the demographic changes, in particular through retirement of the "baby boomer" generation, it becomes essential to significantly increase the number of training positions in relevant professions. The Vienna city government has therefore set itself the goal of significantly increasing the training capacities in the health sector in order to successfully meet future challenges.