The Austrian Medical Association emphasizes that no improvement can be derived from the sheer number of applicants for the additional 100 health insurance positions alone.
Vienna (OTS) – The report that, according to the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), 100 general practitioners and 200 specialists have registered for the newly created 100 health insurance positions is fundamentally positive. But it is not yet a reason for widespread celebration, emphasizes general practitioner Edgar Wutscher, Federal Curia Chairman of the resident doctors of the Austrian Medical Association: “We are currently having massive supply problems, regardless of the 100 additional health insurance positions, there are still almost 300 positions unfilled – and they are leaving them “Don’t ignore the current applications,” he emphasizes. The problem is a profound one that can only be solved with a whole package of measures.
Dietmar Bayer, deputy federal chairman of the resident doctors, adds that it is not possible to judge from the number of applicants alone how targeted the applications are: “No improvement can be derived from the sheer number, because what is important, for example, is how many of them are general practitioners and available in the regions being searched? How many of them are pediatricians and gynecologists? How many of them then meet the required criteria for a statutory health insurance doctor position?”
Starting bonus for everyone
In any case, it is positive that a starting bonus of up to 100,000 euros was created for the 100 newly created cash registers in order to support the initial equipment of the new ordinations. In principle, however, one must consider extending this starting bonus to the currently open statutory health insurance doctor positions: “This financial assistance may help fill existing open positions more quickly,” says Wutscher. Bayer also agrees: “Taking on a cash register position always involves investments that unsettle or even scare some people away,” he says. Therefore, the starting bonus of up to 100,000 euros should apply to all open checkout positions, emphasized Wutscher and Bayer.
Modernization of services
However, in order to secure public supplies in the long term, the general conditions must finally be improved. “The starting bonus is a good bonus, but that alone will not be enough to bring about long-term changes,” says Wutscher. There is still a lack of a uniform catalog of services, and the fees also need to be more performance-based: “Performance-related remuneration without limits and degressions will make the health insurance system more interesting again for many doctors – in the long term too,” says Wutscher. If limits and degressions were consistently eliminated, this would increase the value of the cash register area.
Another point is the relaxation of the regulations for medical medicine cabinets: “If doctors were allowed to dispense medication themselves and more medicine cabinets were allowed, then these would also be measures that would help to fill the open health insurance positions again,” Wutscher is convinced: “ Public health care must be strengthened in order to restore comprehensive care and successfully fill open health insurance positions – and we need a whole package of measures that will bring about long-term changes,” he appeals to politicians.
Questions & Contact:
Austrian Medical Association
Mag. Sophie Niedenzu, MSc
public relation
01/51406/3316
s.niedenzu@aerztekammer.at