"Bonus Points" Through Public Service: New System for Medical Study Places

The regional health ministers decided on Wednesday at a joint conference in Graz to evaluate the dedicated medical study places and, together with the Ministry of Health, want to consider a "nationwide incentive system" at the start of studies. Specifically, there could be "bonus points" in the entrance test for those who "commit" to work in the public service after their studies, said State Secretary Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig (SPÖ).

Easier Access Through Bonus Points

With the bonus points, prospective students who subsequently make their labor available to the public health system in Austria could be granted easier access to the study accompanied by entrance tests, said Königsberger-Ludwig at the joint press conference with regional councilors Karlheinz Kornhäusl from Styria, Daniela Gutschi from Salzburg, and Cornelia Hagele from Tyrol (all ÖVP). The State Secretary also wants to further develop the primary care centers. Kornhäusl specified that there needs to be an expansion to include women's and dental medicine. This should be implemented "in the near future." Additionally, it was decided at the conference that the public health service will be restructured.

Regional Health Ministers: ELGA Lags Behind

Gutschi addressed possible savings in bureaucracy - for example, at training institutions - and regarding data transfer, all regions agreed that the transmission with the electronic health record ELGA must become faster: "We must not neglect these technical matters." Meanwhile, Hagele emphasized the exchange between the federal states: "We have nine states to test innovations and then use the experiences of others." She cited "HerzMobil" from Tyrol or "Tele-Dermatology" from Styria as examples.

Cooperations Between Federal States in Prospect

When asked about the statements made by the President of the Association of Municipalities, Johannes Pressl (ÖVP), on Sunday, suggesting that hospitals might be closed in the future, Königsberger-Ludwig said: "I don't think much of it when the end is anticipated at the beginning of a reform process." Styria is currently working on cooperations with other federal states such as Salzburg to establish collaborations between locations. The two states have already signed concrete declarations of intent regarding which services in which specialist areas will be mutually taken over. However, the details are still being worked out, said Kornhäusl and Gutschi. She stated that careful consideration must be given to which specialist areas are concentrated where. They are still in the development phase. Kornhäusl also noted at the end: "The idea that every facility offers everything 365 days a year can be abandoned. That is not wise either. It is important to define which service each location can provide."

(APA/Red)

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