By Prim. Dr. Josef F. Macher, President of the Austrian Federation of Private Hospitals (Verband der Privatkrankenanstalten Österreichs)
The current healthcare situation in Austria in 2024
In 2024 and the following years, Austria will undergo a comprehensive healthcare reform initiated by the federal government. This will lay the foundation for the possibility of billing private doctors’ services directly and in full to the insurance company as an additionally insured patient. The expansion of primary care centres is also being actively promoted. It is important to note that these facilities can only be operated by private, purely non-profit organisations. All of these efforts represent a push to improve the overall efficiency, accessibility and quality of healthcare services in the country.
The association’s 3 main priorities for 2024
In the context of the EU elections and the National Council elections in Austria, the Association is ready to play a decisive role in shaping the discourse on private healthcare. With a particular focus on the benefits that private clinics offer to the healthcare system as a whole, the association aims to highlight the efficiency, innovation and specialised care that private healthcare providers can offer to the overall wellbeing of the Austrian population. This will also lead to an engaged dialogue with policy makers and stakeholders to ensure that the role of private healthcare is continuously promoted in the national healthcare discourse.
