The MTD law review period came to an end with over 450 statements and more than 10,000 supports for the demands of the MTD professional associations and the umbrella organization.
MTD-Austria welcomes the fact that the law, which is over 30 years old, has finally been revised. Nevertheless, the draft contains few forward-looking steps that we have been calling for for a long time. Essential points for the desired health policy realignment of the healthcare system remain completely unaffected. The amendment still does not allow the meaningful use of the expertise of specialists in the MTD professions, although this is urgently needed due to increasing complexity. There is also no differentiation through specializations with expanded powers. This misses the goal of the government agreement, which stated the ‘attractiveness of the health professions’.
Gabriele Jaksch, President of MTD-Austria
Vienna (OTS) – The focus of the demands of MTD-Austria and the seven professional associations biomed austria, Association of Diaetologists Austria, Ergotherapie Austria, logopädieaustria, orthoptik austria, Physio Austria and rtaustria is to ensure patient safety, and thus high-quality healthcare for the population. The practice of the profession for the currently over 41,000 MTD professionals should also be made more attractive by creating more legal certainty.
The three core demands are and remain:
- Low-threshold access to therapeutic and diagnostic services, no tightening of orders through precise definition of measures,
- Access to prevention for all seven MTD professions without a doctor’s order and
- Expansion of authority through specialization.
These demands have found more than 10,000 supporters. The amendment to the MTD Act 2024 was under review until May 29th. Among other things, it contains the legal regulations for the professional practice of around 41,000 professionals in Austria.
Gabriele Jaksch, President of MTD-Austria: “MTD-Austria welcomes the fact that the law, which is over 30 years old, has finally been revised. Nevertheless, the draft contains few forward-looking steps that we have been calling for for a long time. Essential points for the desired health policy reorientation of the healthcare system remain completely unaffected. The amendment still does not allow the meaningful use of the expertise of specialists in the MTD professions, although this is urgently needed due to increasing complexity. There is also no differentiation through specializations with expanded powers. This misses the goal of the government agreement, which stated the ‘attractiveness of the health professions’.”
A large number are registered in the statements of the Chamber of Labor, the Austrian Federation of Trade Unions (ÖGB), the Public Service Union (GÖD), the University of Applied Sciences Conference (FHK), the Austrian Midwives Committee, the Professional Association of Social Work and the Federal Association of Self-Help Austria (BVSHOE). Have their say with very similar demands to MTD-Austria: The resources of MTD professionals should be accessible to the general public without restrictions and at a low threshold, depending on the skills they have acquired. Further qualification through public master’s courses and specializations with skills expansion are necessary for secure, targeted and future-oriented healthcare.
About MTD Austria
MTD-Austria is the umbrella organization of Austria’s senior medical-technical services, the third largest professional group in the Austrian healthcare system. As legally regulated healthcare professionals, the approximately 41,000 MTD professionals bear great responsibility towards their patients and the Austrian population. They include seven professional groups: biomedical analysts, dieticians, occupational therapists, speech therapists, orthoptists, physiotherapists and radiology technologists.
Questions & Contact:
MTD-Austria
Mag.a Gabriele Jaksch, President MTD-Austria
Mobil: + 43 664 14 14 150
Office: +43 664 14 14 118
E-Mail: office@mtd-austria.at
www.mtd-austria.at