"Treatment Guarantee" Aims to Secure Doctor's Appointment for Viennese Within 14 Days

A "Vienna Treatment Guarantee" is proposed as a solution, as explained by party leader Judith Pühringer and health spokesperson Barbara Huemer. The guarantee is intended to ensure that affected individuals can have a specialist consultation within 14 days.

Vienna's Greens Demand "Treatment Guarantee" for Doctor Consultation Within 14 Days

The diagnosis for the healthcare system in Vienna is extremely painful, stated Pühringer. Patients are confronted with overcrowded doctor's offices, long waiting times for surgeries, or deficiencies in mental health care. Trust in the system is being lost. "There is also the feeling that the e-card is no longer sufficient in case of doubt."

To support the criticism, figures were presented. Children, for example, have to wait up to a year for routine procedures like a polyp operation because there is a lack of pediatric anesthetists, among other things. Waiting times for appointments with ophthalmologists or in gynecology have also increased significantly, averaging 44 and 32 days, respectively. In child psychiatry, according to the Greens, beds are closed, and even urgent cases are being turned away.

Pühringer urged measures to quickly improve the situation. As part of a treatment guarantee, it should be ensured in the future that appointments for surgeries or MRI examinations are allocated "promptly." A specialist consultation should also be possible within 14 days.

The city should work together with partners such as health insurance companies or the medical association to develop this within the framework of the state target steering commission, suggested Pühringer. To find a solution despite the shortage of personnel, there needs to be an improvement in working conditions or an expansion of primary care facilities.

"Eastern Supply Region" to be Established

Another topic in Vienna recently was the treatment of people from other federal states. Health City Councilor Peter Hacker (SPÖ) had complained about massive additional costs due to guest patients from Lower Austria. The Greens now recommend the establishment of a so-called Eastern Supply Region. Vienna, Lower Austria, and Burgenland could lift the state borders for inpatient care.

Hospitals should be jointly financed, suggested Pühringer. Patients could then choose the hospital based on criteria such as specialization or accessibility. More insurance-covered psychotherapy places or measures in the area of women's health were also demanded today. For example, it was complained that there are too few midwives in hospitals.

(APA/Red)

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