500 million euros for health reform: hope for better care!

500 million euros for health reform: hope for better care!

Österreich - From 2026, a health reform fund with a volume of around 500 million euros will be set up in Austria. This was announced by the State Secretary for Health, Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig. She described the fund as a "laughing eye" in the context of increasing health insurance contributions for pensioners. The exact content of the fund has not yet been determined, but clearly defined goals such as the improvement of medical care, the shortening of waiting times as well as the strengthening of women's health and the psychosocial care of children and adolescents should be pursued. The total budget for the healthcare system increased to 3.22 billion euros in 2026 after it received a decline in 2025. The fund is financed by raising the health insurance contributions, which the government decided. These steps show the government's commitment to increase the quality of care in the healthcare system, such as [ots.at] (https://www.ots.at/presseaus-sung/ots_20250610_ots0150/budget committee-500-mio-schwererformformformformfonds-Soll-Supply improvement).

The payments for the health sector amount to 2.84 billion euros in 2025 and increase to 3.22 billion euros the following year. FPÖ MP Gerhard Kaniak criticized the measure and described the budget as "very inflated" compared to the pre-corona times. In addition, the green concerns about austerity measures that could affect the health system, including the expiry of the free HPV vaccine for young adults. A law on the more precise regulation of the health reform fund is to be developed by early 2026.

Details of the health reform fund

As aimed at the health reform, various measures are to be financed by the health reform fund. This includes the expansion of psychosocial care, which is funded with 16 million euros in 2025 and 21 million euros in 2026. Another important point on the agenda is a package of measures for women's health, which will be equipped with 10 million euros from 2026. Furthermore, the Austrian Agency for Nutrition Security (AGES) will receive an increased basic allowance of 98.5 million euros from 2025. Health Austria GmbH (GöG) also receives 15 million euros for 2025 and 2026.

background of the health reform

The need for a comprehensive health reform has become clear in the current situation. The health system faces challenges such as an aging society, the overload of hospitals and a lack of health insurance doctors who lead to long waiting times. According to Social Ministry.GV.at this requires comprehensive rethinking and the implementation of structural measures.

A central element of the reform is the strengthening of the resident sector. Every year, 300 million euros are to be invested in the creation of additional cash offices. This is assessed as a key measure to improve care, since shorter waiting times and medical care close to home are to be guaranteed for patients. An overall contract for regulating the services of the health insurance doctors is modernized and simplified, which also contributes to the efficiency of the system.

The financing of the health care reform is organized as part of the financial equalization between the federal government, the states and the municipalities, which is negotiated every five years. This structural reform is considered the largest in decades and is intended to create the basis for a sustainable health system. The system to compensate for risk differences between the health insurance companies, known as risk structure compensation, was also adjusted to ensure the quality of the supply for all insured persons. bundesgesundheitministerium.de explains how these financial means and regulations work together to ensure fair competitive conditions for all health insurance companies.