Austria's health system: uniform hotline 1450 for everyone!

Austria's health system: uniform hotline 1450 for everyone!

The Austrian federal government plans to standardize the health hotline in 1450 and to establish the first point of contact in the health system. This was announced on June 16, 2025. Harald Mayer, Vice President of the Austrian Medical Association (ÖÄK) and Federal Curium Chairman of the Doctors (BKAÄ), welcomes this initiative and sees an important step to improve patient care. According to Mayer, a binding patient steering is necessary to ensure the functionality of the health system. The aim is to control the patient flows and relieve the hospital outpatient clinics. In May 2024, the BKAÄ organized an enquete entitled "1450 - the remedy for the hospitals?", In which all important actors in the health system were known for 1450

Especially in Vienna, where in 1450 it was already best expanded, an impressive detour of 85 percent of the patients who would otherwise have used a hospital lensity or the emergency services could be achieved into other care structures. Mayer also demands that the medical profession as a system partner are involved in the implementation of the plans. A central element of this initiative is the fully integrated integration of the electronic health file ELGA, which is intended to make the data collected in 1450 available for further treatment and reduce bureaucratic effort.

about the health hotline 1450

The telephone health advice 1450 has been available throughout Austria since November 2019 and offers support for health concerns around the clock, seven days a week. It serves as a low -threshold initial point for callers with health problems or acute symptoms. The advice is carried out by specially trained, gradually health and nursing staff, which provides information about local doctors and their opening times in accordance with the place of residence of the callers. However, 1450 does not replace a medical treatment and does not make any diagnoses, but offers quick help and orientation in healthcare. In medical emergencies, callers should choose the rescue emergency call 144.

integration into the eHealth infrastructure

Another important aspect is the integration of the hotline into the existing eHealth infrastructure in Austria. EHEATH describes the combination of medical computer science, public health and business through information and communication technologies. Austria already has an established eHealth strategy and relies on digital health apps, online date bookings and video overalls. The expansion of the health hotline 1450 for early advice to patients is also planned

According to the plans, a financing of 51 million euros will be provided annually by 2028, which comes from third -party financing of the federal government, the states and social security. These funds are to be used for telemedical offers, the further development of the ELGA and for the health hotline 1450. The ELGA itself provides access to health data for patients and health service providers and was introduced in public hospitals in 2015, in 2018 also in the resident area.

Overall, it can be seen that the initiative for the standardization of the Hotline 1450 is not only an answer to the challenges in the health system, but is also a step towards a modern, digital health care in Austria. These developments promise to ensure improved care and targeted control of health resources.