ÖVP and its economic association obviously have to deliver before the National Council election: will there be another reduction in employer contributions to the AUVA?
Vienna (OTS/SK) – It has been clear for several years that the Lorenz Böhler Accident Hospital needs to be renovated. During this modernization, only parts of the Lorenz Böhler Hospital should be closed; the patients in the affected wards would be cared for elsewhere. Among other things, the AKH and the AUVA trauma center in Vienna Meidling were mentioned as temporary solutions for seamless care. But now there is talk of a complete closure of the accident hospital. The result would be untreated patients and canceled surgery appointments. In an initial reaction, 900 operations were postponed. SPÖ National Council member Rudolf Silvan sharply criticizes: “The renovation of the Lorenz-Böhler must not be carried out on the backs of the patients!” ****
However, insiders fear that the Lorenz Böhler Accident Hospital will be completely closed under the pretext of renovation. The MP explains why this is the case: “The ÖVP and, above all, its economic association would like to sell a further reduction in employee contributions to the AUVA to their clientele in the National Council election campaign as a success. In order to be able to finance such a reduction in contributions, it would be possible for the Lorenz Böhler Hospital to fall completely victim to the savings fund!” Silvan wonders whether there is now a threat of closure so that the ÖVP can serve its major donors?
The argument of a reduction in non-wage costs for employers is repeatedly propagated by the neoliberal parties, but it always means cuts in benefits for employees. In this case, a further reduction in employer contributions to accident insurance by a tenth of a percent to 1.0 percent would result in the closure of the Lorenz Böhler Hospital. Large corporations such as the German Rewe Group or major ÖVP donors such as KTM owner Stefan Pierer primarily benefit from such a contribution reduction. While these companies would save themselves several thousand euros, employees would only be left with a few euros a month.
During the current government period, employers’ contributions to accident insurance were reduced by 0.1 percent under the black-green coalition. But the ÖVP and FPÖ were also responsible for a 0.1 percent reduction in contributions in the previous coalition. For AUVA, this means a loss of contributions of over 140 million euros per contribution reduction. In total, the AUVA and the health system were deprived of around 300 million euros per year. Silvan therefore strongly condemns yesterday’s statements by FPÖ city councilor Nepp. He tried to hold the city of Vienna responsible for the events surrounding the Lorenz-Böhler. “Nepp has probably forgotten that the former FPÖ Health Minister Beate Hartinger-Klein and his party with the ÖVP are responsible for the destruction of our health system by reducing employer contributions. He would be better advised not to spew populist wisdom, but should urgently sweep up his own door!” (Conclusion) ls
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