Fight for health: Mattle demands radical ÖGK reform!

Fight for health: Mattle demands radical ÖGK reform!

Vienna, Österreich - The debate about the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) has gained intensity after Tyrol's Governor Anton Mattle (ÖVP) described the cash merger as a mistake and demands a "reform of the reform". These explanations were expressly praised by Andreas Huss, the chairman of the ÖGK. According to vienna.at, SPÖ representatives in particular criticize the merger of the health insurers, while Upper Austria's governor Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP) also expresses concerns.

The reactions to mattle statements are mixed. While the Bundes-ÖVP and the Greens warn of returning to old structures, Huss demands a return of financial resources and more regional presence of the ÖGK. The ÖVP general secretary Nico Marchetti emphasizes the need for reducing bureaucracy and lean structures. At the same time, the Greens and Neos express skepticism to a return to the old cashier structure. The Medical Association, on the other hand, welcomes Mattles' reform signals, but criticizes the insufficient preparation of the merger.

financial challenges

In this context, the growing deficit of the ÖGK becomes increasingly on the subject. According to the Arbeiterkammer.at, the ÖGK recorded a negative result of around 400 million euros in 2023 and a loss of EUR 481 million in 2024. For 2025, another deficit of 800 million euros is expected. Erwin Zangerl, President of the Tyrolean Chamber of Labor, criticizes the effects of cash merger on the health system.

upcoming financial burdens also affect Tyrol, which is expected to pay 400 million euros to cover the ÖGK deficit to Vienna by 2027. Furthermore, a lawsuit against the cash merger due to a lack of financial basis was submitted by the Tyrolean Chamber of Labor in 2019, but was rejected. A report by the Court of Auditors from 2022 found that the federal government's billion goal was unrealistic.

reform approaches in the health sector

The need for a reform in the health sector is also underpinned by the general health reform in Austria, which has been the greatest structural reform for decades. This reform aims at ensuring high -quality medical care and combating existing problems in healthcare. As reported Social Ministry.gv.at, significant funds were provided as part of the financial equalization.

The federal government will provide over 2 billion euros for health and care annually by 2028, and a total of 14 billion euros are provided. The key points of the reform include strengthening the resident area, structural reforms in hospitals and the expansion of digital offers. In addition, measures to promote health and to improve medication should be implemented in order to meet the challenges of an aging society.

c long waiting times and the lack of health insurance: inside are challenges that would result in massive financial burdens without reform. In order to meet the expectations of health care as best as possible, a comprehensive redesign of the supply structures within the ÖGK and the entire system are sought.