Healthcare System: Doctors Warn of Supply Shortage

Immediate aid from the federal government is needed to stabilize the ÖGK, according to Medical Association Vice President Edgar Wutscher. Structural reforms are also necessary to make insurance contracts more attractive, increase transparency in ÖGK financing, and hold a round table with all parties involved. Chamber Vice President Naghme Kamaleyan-Schmied called for a "crisis summit."

"Even ÖGK Can Go Bankrupt"

We are facing a "decisive turning point," said Wutscher in his role as chairman of the federal committee of resident doctors at a press conference in Vienna. In view of the "financial gap" at the regional health insurance fund (ÖGK), the Medical Association is demanding a clear commitment to the public solidarity-based healthcare system from the government or coalition negotiators, Wutscher referred to statements by ÖGK Chairman Andreas Huss. Huss had stated on Monday, "even the ÖGK can go bankrupt," and it is unknown whether there will be measures from the federal government to support the fund. "The leadership of the social insurance has made mistakes and, in our opinion, is managing incorrectly," Wutscher said.

The financing of the solidarity-based healthcare system must be "at the top of the agenda of government negotiations," Wutscher directed his demand to the coalition negotiators. The Medical Association is currently not involved in the ongoing talks between the FPÖ and ÖVP. "We are making efforts to involve and inform participants," he said.

"Biggest Construction Site of the Second Republic"

The deputy chairman of resident doctors, Dietmar Bayer, regretted that healthcare is only a marginal topic in the coalition negotiations. However, if the people in Austria are not healthy, the economy will not function either, he advised the negotiators. "The healthcare system in Austria is the biggest construction site of the Second Republic," he said. "This urgently needs to be addressed, otherwise there will be restrictions in care."

Currently, in some federal states, the ÖGK as a negotiation partner is "nonexistent," said Wutscher. Although they sit down with the doctors' representatives, given the "huge financial gap," they cannot even present any binding offer to negotiate. The chairman pointed out that the unified service catalog created by the doctors has been "completed for years." "Of course, the implementation of uniform services will cost money" - this is agreed upon with the ÖGK. However, if the politicians commit to the solidarity health system, they must also finance it.

As possible reforms, Wutscher suggested, among other things, a binding patient management system. There needs to be a shift of services from outpatient clinics to the private practice sector. The question is: "Can we develop a system with the E-Card where patients receive a bonus if they do not immediately go to hospitals or outpatient clinics?" Bayer called for an expansion of telemedicine, as digitalization could help alleviate the burden.

Medical Association Vice Wants Crisis Summit

Medical Association Vice President Naghme Kamaleyan-Schmied said that currently, patients are receiving "three-minute medicine" instead of "attentive medicine." There are no modern services, and doctors are already being threatened by social insurance with more controls, for example, regarding the allocation of MRIs and CTs, and there are also threats of "zero wage rounds." "I demand a health crisis summit because health must be a priority." The politicians are urged to "revive" the health system and the ÖGK.

Kamaleyan-Schmied pointed out that in Vienna alone, 197 health insurance positions are not yet effective in patient care. According to her, 54 positions are unfilled, and there are an additional 143 positions that have been assigned but are not yet "effective in care" (as of January). The reason for this is that the establishment process is extremely difficult, and no affordable or suitable property for the practice can be found, according to the Vienna Chamber. Also, more and more doctors are turning their backs on the solidarity system due to the enormous pressure and difficult working conditions. In Vienna, the number of health insurance doctors has decreased by twelve percent since 2012, while the population has grown by 16 percent in the same period, said Kamaleyan-Schmied.

(APA/Red)

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