A glimmer of hope:

Emergency solution in the desperate battle for GPs

From April, the head of the town Christian Laister is looking forward to additional medical care in Groß Gerungs, which will be offered two mornings a week in the old town hall.

(Bild: Stadtgemeinde Groß Gerungs)

A GP is admirably maintaining medical care in the Waldviertel town of Groß Gerungs on her own. Mayor Christian Laister is not only grateful to her for this - he is also fighting with all the means at his disposal to find more doctors. Now he has found an interim medical practitioner - because he has a lot in common with the town.

The mayor of Waldviertel, Christian Laister, is increasingly fighting for new GPs in his home town of Groß Gerungs after two of them threw in the towel last year.

34 GPs wanted in Lower Austria!
"According to the health insurance fund, there are more than 750 GP posts in Lower Austria, 16 of which are advertised for filling. 14 of these have no possibility for a family doctor. And a further 18 positions, all without a practice dispensary, have been vacant for up to eight years and are no longer advertised due to ten unsuccessful searches," he says, outlining a massive infrastructural problem because "far too many cooks spoil the broth".

Doctor does job for three
"Our more than 4,400 citizens are still being cared for by Dr. Alexandra Lieb, but despite her admirable dedication, she can't look after everyone," emphasizes Laister. He has now been able to recruit Dr. Hien Dat Qiu, who runs two practices in Vienna and has a long history with the city, on an interim basis. From April, he will ordain two mornings a week in the old town hall.