The focus on health centers: Increasing patient care in Graz

The focus on health centers: Increasing patient care in Graz

In Graz on Monday, October 28, 2024, the health country councils Ludwig Schleritzko from Lower Austria and Karlheinz Kornhäusl met from Styria. The focus here was on the further development of health centers and the necessary measures that must be implemented at the federal level in order to increase efficiency in health care. "Health care must be accessible to everyone, regardless of the place of residence," Kornhäusl clarified.

The two state councils discussed specific initiatives to expand the primary care units (PVE). The new federal government called for the introduction of additional health centers, especially for women and dental health care. In addition, the number of study places for medical students must be increased in order to react to the growing need for doctors.

Strengthening the resident area

A central point of the talks was the strengthening of the resident area. This could be done through the development of health centers that expand the existing offer of home and specialists. Around 20 health centers are already being planned in Styria, including a special children's health center. "A strong resident system guarantees better access to medical care," said Schleritzko, who emphasized that attractive cash contracts and faster deadlines are required to reduce the pressure situation to hospital outpatient clinics. Kornhäusl adds: "We need a nationwide cash contract to improve care."

This became particularly clear during the visit of the Graz-Reininghaus health center, where an interdisciplinary team offers a wide range of medical services under one roof. This type of care promises to avoid longer paths and make the treatment easier.

More medical study places required

Another urgent topic is to increase the study places in medicine. Both state councils agree that the capacity of the universities must be increased in order to take into account demographic change. Kornhäusl pointed out that the current lack of medical study places is unsustainable: "It cannot be that we have to reject countless study requests while there is a great need for doctors." A new system that is supposed to create fixed quotas for the federal states was brought into conversation. This is intended to use young doctors in the regions where their needs are greatest.

In the discussion about maintaining high -quality health care, it was also indicated that it was urgently necessary to check the recording criteria for medical students from Germany in order to be able to keep them in the country. "The taxpayers' investments in the training of medical students must also be reflected in a corresponding period of service in public healthcare," concluded Schleritzko.

For more information, interested parties can have the current reports on the website www.kommunikation.steiermark.at read.