Against savings

Medical Association has demands for the next government

Symbolic image

(Bild: stock.adobe.com)

On Monday, the Medical Association presented its demands to the next federal government. It is about investments instead of savings in the healthcare system, incentives instead of constraints for doctors, safeguarding the supply of medicines and concerns about artificial intelligence.

Johannes Steinhart, head of the chamber, does not necessarily want a doctor to be the next health minister, nor did he name any coalition preferences.

"Fatal consequences" of savings are criticized
A well-functioning healthcare system costs money and cannot be had cheaply, Steinhart emphasized at a press conference with regard to the ongoing savings package discussion. In his view, the "fatal consequences" of the cost containment path of recent years must be corrected. Construction sites such as the lack of health insurance contracts, staff shortages in hospitals and unreasonable waiting times for patients must be urgently addressed. Steinhart could also imagine mandatory patient guidance, whereby he would ascribe a central role to doctors here.

President of the Medical Association Dr. Johannes Steinhart

(Bild: www.annarauchenberger.com/Anna Rauchenberger)

Compulsory service "a dark red line for us"
If you want to reduce waiting times, you also have to ensure that you keep staff in the system. A compulsory obligation to work in the public healthcare system "is a dark red line for us", emphasized the President of the Medical Association. What is needed instead are internationally competitive framework conditions for practising the profession.

Steinhart also warned once again against selling out or "corporateization" in the healthcare sector. For Steinhart, the sale of the VAMED rehabilitation clinics shows how virulent this issue is. It is important that medical guidelines dominate patient care. Other issues for him: the supply of medicines must be secured, including through production in Europe and Austria. Risks must be minimized when it comes to digitalization. Artificial intelligence offers immense opportunities, but the ultimate responsibility must always lie with the doctor.

Medical association dissatisfied with Rauch's performance
Steinhart did not express a preference regarding the composition of the upcoming coalition. He was also open about the person who will be the next head of the health department. "We have had the same debates with doctors," he said when asked whether he would prefer a doctor in this position. He had few positive words for the current Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) and the outgoing turquoise-green government in general, under which the powers of the medical associations were also curtailed in the course of negotiating the financial equalization. In view of the latest decisions, the President of the Medical Association said that he would "not really wish for anything" to be continued in the new legislative period that is now beginning.