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Millions for empty beds: Health Committee demands clarification!
The Lower Austrian Health Agency paid over 10 million euros for unused remobilization beds while occupancy fell. Experts criticize the mismanagement.
Millions for empty beds: Health Committee demands clarification!
Shocking revelations from the health sector: According to a recent report by the Court of Auditors, the state health agency paid over 10 million euros for unused nursing beds between 2015 and 2022. However, these so-called remobilization beds, which were originally intended to support patients, remained largely empty today.at reported. The reason? A contract that provided for a guaranteed 90 percent capacity utilization was never fulfilled.
The affiliation agreement between the Lower Austrian State Hospital Holding and a private operator for a new special hospital came into force in January 2013. However, the actual bed occupancy rate was consistently below the intended target between 2015 and 2022. The Court of Auditors points out that the State Health Agency did not classify these beds as remobilization beds, but rather as interdisciplinary beds. According to the health agency, utilization only increased significantly from 2023 onwards, so that it is now over 90 percent. Despite this progress, NEOS health spokeswoman Edith Kollermann criticizes the approach as mismanagement and lacks transparent control over the use of taxpayers' money noe.ORF.at holds on.
Open questions about responsibility
The worrying situation raises questions about accountability in the state health agency. Kollermann emphasizes that while medical practices in rural areas are understaffed and waiting times for specialist appointments are prohibitive, tax money is being spent on empty beds. The criticism is also directed against the Lower Austrian State Health Agency, which has evaded control by the state parliament in the past.
These revelations shed light on the challenges facing the healthcare system and call into question the effectiveness of existing administrative measures. In the midst of these controversies, experts under the Lower Austrian Health Package are dealing with acute geriatrics and geriatric medicine in order to develop possible improvements.