Health Secretary of State Königsberger-Ludwig Advocates for More Specialist Centers and Medical Study Places

In an interview with APA, Königsberger-Ludwig refers to the planned expansion of the hotline 1450, the extension of primary care units, and the government's initiative to create multidisciplinary specialist centers. She also insists on increasing the number of medical study places.

Königsberger-Ludwig Focuses on Expanding Hotline 1450

To counteract the shortage of doctors and the waiting for appointments, the State Secretary wants to "create a basic offer of health advice" - SPÖ party leader Andreas Babler had spoken of a "health navigator" in this regard. A project order has been issued through the target control commission, according to the State Secretary. On one hand, the health advice via the hotline 1450 is to be expanded, and a nationwide appointment service is also to be rolled out via this hotline. Patients who wish to do so could then get a directly activated doctor's appointment through this hotline - earlier than elsewhere. By the end of 2026, there should be a uniform offer in Austria. Another point is the rollout of a telemedicine offer. In response to concerns from the Medical Association about parallel structures, which even led to a lawsuit by the association against a tender by the ÖGK, Königsberger-Ludwig countered: It is not about competition, but about using resources optimally. They are also working intensively on this, she said.

Primary Care Units to Be Strongly Expanded

In particular, Königsberger-Ludwig sees primary care units (PVE) as a model for the future, especially because of the interdisciplinary collaboration of various health professions - including social workers. "This is an incredible added value for doctors because they can really coordinate in a team." In addition, there are the long opening hours for patients. The goal is to increase the current number of around 100 PVEs to about 300 by 2030, she said. Königsberger-Ludwig also places a strong focus on the establishment of specialist centers planned in the government program. Currently, only general practitioners and pediatricians can establish a primary care unit. The goal is to make this possible for specialists as well.

Continued Demand for More Study Places Against Doctor Shortage

To counter a looming doctor shortage, which the Medical Association recently warned about, the State Secretary wants to address this with more study places despite skepticism in the association: "We will have to discuss sooner or later that medical study places also need to be increased - also knowing that this is a real challenge in the current budgetary situation." She does not share the Medical Association's concerns about a surplus of doctors. As the association itself emphasized, the "baby boomers" will soon be retiring, she referred to a corresponding warning from the professional association about a wave of retirements.

More Doctor Workplaces Through Making the Profession More Attractive

She could "100 percent endorse" the call of the Medical Association for making the profession more attractive, for example in terms of working hours and family-friendliness. Currently, there is less of a shortage of doctors, but rather a shortage of doctors in the public system, she also shared the analysis of the professional representation - this is particularly pronounced in the field of pediatrics or gynecology.

"I also believe that the insurance positions simply have to be attractive." Young, newly qualified doctors need to be offered various opportunities - with flexible models, group practices, primary care units - also with employment. "And since medicine is becoming more female, this must also be taken into account," she pointed out the increased proportion of women in medicine.

An important factor in making the profession more attractive is also the factor of time: "Every doctor says they need more time for patients so they don't have to rush them through." The insurance contracts must also be appropriately honored: "This is already a point where social insurance really has to think about how to make it so that doctors are happy to work in the system."

Königsberger-Ludwig Against Obligations for Private Doctors and for Incentives

In the repeatedly heated discussion about obligations for private doctors to also contribute to the public healthcare system, Königsberger-Ludwig advocates for incentives. "I am always a fan of incentives and not sanctions," she referred to her proposal to grant bonus points in the entrance exam for medical studies, provided that applicants commit in return to making themselves available to the public system five years after they finish. It is about getting young doctors into the public system. Corresponding discussions with Science Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner are already being conducted.

ELGA Expansion Should Bring Relief

Königsberger-Ludwig hopes for relief for doctors through the planned expansion of the Electronic Health Record ELGA - moving away from a mere collection of findings in PDF form to a "patient summary" (with search function, among other things). "I believe that this will also lead to the cessation of some duplicate findings."

Agreement Between ÖGK and Medical Association for Königsberger-Ludwig "Order of the Day"

Regarding the factor of time in medical practices, Königsberger-Ludwig also referred to her goal of a comprehensive contract for doctors with the ÖGK. This is a "great challenge," she emphasized. Just on Thursday, the SPÖ politician stressed that the recommendations of the Court of Auditors are taken seriously. In a preliminary report, it recommended disempowering the state medical associations, thus no longer having to agree to uniform regulations.

Königsberger-Ludwig emphasized that the primary goal is an agreement with all parties involved. However, when asked, she noted that at the end of negotiations, there could also be a legislative initiative that follows the recommendations of the Court of Auditors - and thus means a reorganization of responsibilities at the expense of the state medical associations. A comprehensive contract will probably cost more at the beginning. But it is about fulfilling the promise made during the health insurance fund merger - "namely, that there will be uniform services and that there will be uniform fee systems." This did not happen at the time, she said, with a look at the much-criticized reform under the then black-blue government.

The differences in services or fees depending on the federal state are understood by neither the citizens nor the doctors. "First and foremost, the ÖGK must of course come to an agreement with the medical association, and the federal government will have to ensure that costs do not explode," said the State Secretary. "But I believe that is the order of the day." She also wanted to emphasize that not every change in the health sector has to be a saving. "I am convinced that if you look at how resources can be used efficiently, it can also lead to performance improvements." Overall, it is important to regain the public's trust in the public health system.

Information Campaign Against Vaccination Gaps Planned

Trust is also important to Königsberger-Ludwig when it comes to vaccination. An information campaign is planned here to reposition the topic of vaccination "as an important preventive measure." She also referred to the planned new free vaccination campaigns against pneumococci and shingles (Herpes Zoster) from the end of 2025 or during 2026 for adult risk groups (all persons aged 60 and over as well as for defined risk groups with chronic diseases). The vaccination campaigns against flu (influenza) and the corona vaccination will also remain free. Königsberger-Ludwig also referred to the free HPV vaccination campaign extended until June next year for those up to 30 years old.

Criticism of the State Secretary's statements came from the Freedom Party. FPÖ health spokesperson Gerhard Kaniak spoke of an "expensive sham package" and "old wine in new bottles." The SPÖ plans against the shortage of doctors are "pure placebo politics" and a "completely unsuitable attempt to distract from their own decades-long co-responsibility for the health disaster," he said. "Young doctors are not fleeing the system because there are too few hotlines or primary care units, but because they are suffocating under a mass of bureaucracy, are poorly paid, and have no time for their patients," said Kaniak. The FPÖ demands, among other things, an honest evaluation of personnel needs, "financial fairness with real bonuses and overtime compensation," a "radical debureaucratization," and a "meaningful integration of private doctors into the health insurance system."

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.