Austrian Medical Association on the Chancellor's speech: Actions should follow words

The ÖÄK welcomes the awareness of health issues, but speaks out against compulsory obligations and calls for specific measures and more money into the system.

Vienna (OTS) – “It is to be welcomed that the Federal Chancellor is also addressing burning issues in healthcare in his speech to the nation,” says Johannes Steinhart, President of the Austrian Medical Association (ÖÄK). But the topics are not new. For example, the expansion of local care is also planned as an objective in the government program: “To date, unfortunately, not much has changed in the precarious situation, we need more action on the part of politicians and social security,” emphasizes Steinhart. The Chancellor’s fundamental considerations are good in themselves, but some suggestions still need to be considered.

Concrete future perspectives necessary

“We reject compulsory obligations in any form,” says Harald Mayer, Vice President of the Austrian Medical Association and Federal Curia Chairman of the employed doctors. “Rather, we must strive to keep those who are trained with us in Austria with attractive offers. Casually. Coercion is an obstacle to performance.” Mayer also does not consider the possible increase in the number of medical study places mentioned by the Federal Chancellor to be expedient: “Basically, we have enough graduates to cover demand and we still train more doctors than we need , but do not manage to keep the 1,400 necessary for optimal health care in Austria. This is exactly where we have to start.” And with attractive working conditions that correspond to the requirements of the 21st century and the needs of the respective life situation. In addition to concrete future prospects with improved career opportunities, it is particularly important to enable innovative, flexible work-life balance models and part-time work: “Politics must finally start listening to young people and taking into account how young doctors will work in hospitals, but also in the branch, would like to work. As a professional representative, we are happy to act as mediators.”

Expansion of the checkout system

It is to be welcomed that the Federal Chancellor is striving to expand the cash register system by 800 cash registers throughout Austria: “The expansion of the cash register system is an important pillar in order to strengthen local care and to relieve the outpatient clinics,” emphasizes Edgar Wutscher, Vice President of the Austrian Medical Association and Federal Curia Chairman resident doctors. Here, too, the following applies: “The mere expansion will not solve the shortage of panel doctors, only in combination with modern remuneration and new working time models that adapt to the actual reality of life of the doctors,” Wutscher points out. Above all, investments must also be made in the health system: “The Chancellor should not only make plans here, but also create the financial conditions to put the care of patients in Austria on a stable footing,” pleads the general practitioner to the Chancellor .