Medical Association's Demand for ÖGK Reform and Better Patient Management
The president of the Medical Association, Johannes Steinhart, welcomed the fact that no major cuts in the healthcare sector are planned in the budget, although there would have been no possibility for them anyway. However, he criticized that the structures, such as those at the ÖGK, remain unchanged. The deficit there is of great concern to him, and he described the current proposals to contain it as "irritating." In particular, doctors are advised to prescribe physiotherapy less frequently and for shorter durations.
Medical Association for Rethinking ÖGK Outpatient Clinics and Real Estate
The reduction of MRI and CT scans is also questionable. There is a risk that diseases could be overlooked. Steinhart called for a reconsideration of the operation of the insurance outpatient clinics instead. The effort for these is high, as he noted. The creation of a real estate concept for "spatial optimization" is also suggested to the ÖGK. Furthermore, according to the Chamber President, increased cooperation with other social insurance carriers, for example in IT or real estate management, would be an option.
Steinhart was cautious about recent proposals to abolish the ÖGK and distribute its tasks, for example, to the federal states. He considers a solidarity-based financing to be sensible. This would guarantee funds for the healthcare sector, he pointed out. He sees no leeway with the doctors. "I believe that we have already contributed to saving," Steinhart was convinced. In the outpatient sector, they certainly offer a "good service." He criticized that ÖGK officials had made doctors' salaries a topic, calling it class warfare and not very productive.
Medical Association's Demand for Additional Insurance Positions
Steinhart also described the federal government's budgetary goal of guiding patients more effectively through the system as fundamentally welcome. Expanding the health advice line 1450 is sensible. However, 1,000 additional insurance doctor positions are also needed. The insurance contracts must also be made more flexible, he demands.
Efforts to retain trained doctors in the profession are also necessary, said Steinhart. He reiterated the demand for the possibility of employing doctors in a practice without these being counted as their own insurance position. "Light" primary care centers should also be enabled. In these, doctors would work together with other professional groups.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.