The end of free corona tests in private practice – also an end to wasted taxpayer money?
As of April 1, 2024, free corona tests in private practice are about to end. While this fact has been heavily criticized by doctors, the MFG points out that this is long overdue.
Although the Corona pandemic was declared over in Austria on June 30, 2023 and the measures were therefore abolished, Corona tests in the private sector were still covered as a cash benefit in suspected cases and financed by the federal government – i.e. by the taxpayer . This regulation is now set to expire on April 1, 2024. According to media reports, this situation has been heavily criticized by doctors. Johannes Steinhart, President of the Vienna and Austrian Medical Associations, is calling on the federal government to “quickly give in and extend the free tests in ordinations in the long term”. According to media reports, doctors have previously been able to charge social security up to 25 euros (!) per test. “The fact that this lucrative business model is now at risk is sure to upset many people
“, said LAbg. Manuel Krautgartner, MFG-OÖ Klubobmann.
„It probably took four years for the government to realize that Corona is a flu-like illness with no increased risk potential and that no extremely expensive tests at taxpayer expense are required.
We at the MFG have criticized from the beginning that Austria’s testing madness was, so to speak, ‘testing’ for the pandemic,” said LAbg. Dagmar Häusler, BSc., MFG-Austria Federal Party Chairman Deputy.
Manuel Krautgarnter also poses the following question: “During the pandemic, millions and millions of euros of tax money were spent on tests. Where are all these tests anyway? Are they perhaps already expired? If not and they are still used as part of the free testing in the private sector, the taxpayer will ultimately pay twice – once for the procurement and again for carrying out the testing. I imagine a careful and economical use of tax money is different.” It should also be mentioned in passing that independently carried out laboratory analyzes have shown that both the liquids in the antigen tests and the test swabs contain highly toxic substances. “And the corona test world champion Austria spent over 5 billion euros on this? I call that a waste of taxpayer money at its finest!” says Manuel Krautgartner angrily.
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