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Austria is planning comprehensive healthcare reform: focus on special outpatient clinics, primary care and digitalization
Find out more about the major health reform project in Vienna and how the federal, state and social security authorities reached an agreement. Reforms in health and care are to be implemented with 14 billion euros by 2028.
Austria is planning comprehensive healthcare reform: focus on special outpatient clinics, primary care and digitalization
New health initiatives in Austria: the future of medical care
In Austria, the transformation of the healthcare system is progressing in order to improve medical care and make it future-proof. In an ambitious step, the federal government, states and social security reached a historic agreement at the beginning of June on the implementation of a comprehensive health care reform. A total of 14 billion euros, which will be made available from financial equalization by 2028, will finance crucial reforms in health and care.
Digital innovations and structural improvements
A central aspect of the reform is the creation of special outpatient clinics in order to increase the efficiency of the health system and relieve the burden on clinicians. These outpatient clinics offer an alternative for patients with minor complaints that have previously burdened hospital outpatient clinics. By setting up specialist outpatient clinics and day clinics, the aim is to have fewer patients admitted as inpatients and thereby reduce costs.
At the same time, primary care is being strengthened by expanding primary care units. These are intended to reduce the number of specialist contacts, outpatient visits and inpatient stays in order to ensure more effective medical care. The goal is comprehensive health care at the highest level.
New ways in healthcare
The focus of the reform is also on the creation of additional health insurance offices in order to improve medical care in private practice. By providing 300 million euros annually, more health insurance offices are to be created, especially in primary care. A modern overall agreement between social insurance and the medical association is intended to increase the attractiveness of these positions and shorten waiting times for patients.
In order to make optimal use of the advantages of digitalization in healthcare, 51 million euros are made available annually to promote digital innovations. This includes expanding telemedicine offerings, strengthening electronic health records and developing health apps. The introduction of digital health applications (DiGA) is intended to further improve medical care and offer patients new options.
Summary
The health care reform in Austria marks an important step towards modern and efficient health care. Through the targeted promotion of digital innovations and structural improvements, medical care is raised to a new level. The future of healthcare in Austria looks promising, with a clear focus on quality, efficiency and accessibility for all citizens of the country.