High-level keynotes and discussions provide new perspectives and reveal the need for action – also for the future government. “People expect reliable healthcare, but at the same time it is necessary to increase the number of healthy years of life and strengthen prevention,” says Dr. Hans-Jörg Schelling, President of the PRAEVENIRE association, on the occasion of the opening of the 9th PRAEVENIRE Health Days in Eisenstadt, which this year serves as a meeting point for thought leaders and innovators. Over 150 experts, decision-makers and stakeholders from politics, business and healthcare discuss the topics of prevention and healthy years of life, oncological care, digitalization and Hospital 2030. The PRAEVENIRE Health Days offer a platform for open dialogue between politics, Health experts and the public to set the course for a sustainable healthcare system.
LAbg. Mag. Thomas Steiner, Mayor of Eisenstadt, emphasizes that cities and municipalities must be involved in preventative measures. “We focus on exercise and health offers for the youngest, because only healthy children can become healthy adults.” For example, all elementary school students can choose two additional sports units per week, which are supervised by professional trainers.
Solidarity system important for democracy
Mag. Franz Öller, MBA, MPH, commercial director of Gesundheit Burgenland, emphasizes the need to rethink current care structures and create health networks that guide patients efficiently through the health system. “To do this, federal state borders must be overcome,” demands Öller.
ÖGK chairman Andreas Huss, MBA, emphasizes that social security is the most reliable basis for democracy: “We have to consolidate the solidarity-based health system. It cannot be the case that every Austrian has to spend an additional 1,000 euros on average every year to finance their own health care. That leads to dissatisfaction.” There is no question that there are no easy solutions to the diverse and often complex health issues, but Huss believes that it is extremely urgent and worthwhile for political stability to look for answers.
Personal responsibility requires health literacy
Theresia Meier, deputy chairwoman of the social insurance for the self-employed, describes the role of bonus models and preventive measures to reduce costs. “Personal responsibility is the key. The focus must be on prevention and exercise, not just repair medicine,” explains Meier.
Mag. Karin Hofer, MBA, prevention expert at the ÖGK, brings successful initiatives and shows that Austria, with an average of only 63 healthy years of life, still has some catching up to do. “Programs like ‘Moving in the Park’ or ‘Living Easier’ must specifically target the right target groups in order to sustainably improve the quality of life of the population,” says Hofer. Factors that are often only slightly influenced by the individual, such as the social environment or the parents’ level of education, are of great importance.
Dr. Anne Busch from the FH Wiener Neustadt emphasizes the importance of e-health in prevention and knows from research that new technologies can increase the effectiveness of prevention measures. “Even if the initial costs are higher, we know that digital support significantly improves the benefits of prevention measures.”
Assoz brings gender issues and a plea for better extramural care for women. Univ.-Prof. Mag. Juliane Bogner-Strauss, Federal Leader of the ÖVP Women, said: “Women bear 80% of the additional burden in the areas of children and care.” In the expert’s opinion, health checks only make sense if they are used regularly – this requires a greater willingness to learn in the population.
Diabetes and lifestyle
Prim. Prof. Dr. Peter Fasching, President of the Austrian Diabetes Society (ÖDG), emphasizes the need to improve the care structures for those affected by diabetes. “That assumes that we know more about the situation in Austria,” says Fasching. Because: Reliable figures are missing and existing offers are clearly too few. “We have to relieve the burden on special outpatient clinics, but this can only be achieved if there is a statutory health insurance reimbursement for diabetes-specific services.” This also includes dietology and lifestyle advice – both of which have to be paid for privately in the treatment plan of those affected outside of hospitals. The doctor calls for the availability of innovative therapies and medical devices for self-monitoring of blood sugar in order to enable individualized therapy that corresponds to the state of medical knowledge. “This requires uniform and equal access to therapies and medical products across Austria.”