Mikl-Leitner demands: "Remove borders in the healthcare sector"
The medical associations of Lower Austria and Burgenland, as well as Lower Austria's patient advocate Michael Prunbauer, called for an end to differentiation based on residence.
"Vienna's Regulation on Guest Patients Unsettles Many People"
"Vienna's regulation on guest patients unsettles many people and shakes their trust in our healthcare system," Mikl-Leitner continued. "Therefore, it is high time that we resolve this issue."
The governor also reminded that a 15a agreement on financial equalization had only been concluded in 2024, in which Lower Austria annually forgoes about 500 million euros, "which predominantly flow to Vienna to treat our guest patients." Mikl-Leitner also referred to an "existing contract" and added: "Why this is not being adhered to, we must discuss in detail. Especially since legal experts confirm that this approach is not legally sustainable."
Lower Austrian Hospitals Also Treat Guest Patients
In addition, "of course, Lower Austrian hospitals also treat guest patients from Vienna." "120,000 outpatient and 11,000 inpatient patients came from Vienna last year," said Mikl-Leitner.
In an open letter, patient advocate Prunbauer, as well as Harald Schlögel, President of the Medical Association for Lower Austria, and Christian Toth, President of the Medical Association for Burgenland, on Monday called on Vienna's Mayor Ludwig and Health Councillor Peter Hacker (SPÖ) to "address any necessary changes in the financing of Vienna's hospitals exclusively to the responsible authorities and not to carry out this conflict on the backs of patients and healthcare personnel." It was further emphasized: "The differentiation based on residence must be stopped immediately and the care of all patients must be ensured solely based on medical urgency."
Problem "increasingly exacerbates"
The problem "increasingly exacerbates," the letter stated: "We are not only receiving requests for help from patients, but also from doctors who are concerned about the care of their patients." A disadvantage for people who are not from Vienna is "highly likely to endanger the health of patients and to sustainably damage the public's trust in a functioning public healthcare system," the two Medical Association Presidents and Prunbauer noted.
Hacker had recently proposed measures such as separate waiting lists for Viennese and non-local patients. This was argued on the grounds that the federal capital, according to the state government, already subsidizes over 610 million euros from the state budget last year because the additional funds allocated to it for the care of guest patients from other federal states (especially Lower Austria and Burgenland) are insufficient. This is disputed by the two federal states.
To clarify, Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) has invited Mikl-Leitner and her Burgenland counterpart Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) to a health summit with experts. Additionally, the topic is also to be brought onto the agenda of the "Reform Partnership" process between the federal government and the states and the Conference of State Governors.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.