
The head of Austria’s Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), Andreas Huss, has called for “at least one billion euros” in additional funding for the country’s healthcare system.
Speaking on ORF’s Press Hour show on Sunday, Huss said the extra funding would help achieve several key goals, including the expansion of local outpatient services. The ÖGK has plans to set up 300 primary healthcare centres by 2030, along with the creation of 800 additional general practitioner posts funded by insurance.
Huss also confirmed the ÖGK’s intention to expand its own network of healthcare centres. Currently, there are five such centres in Vienna, with two more on the way, and the goal is to establish one in each state capital.
The ÖGK also aims to “completely overhaul” psychosocial care, with plans to open a psychosocial care centre in each of Austria’s 32 healthcare regions. Each region would have one centre dedicated to children and young people, and another for adults, serving as a first point of contact.
Huss suggested that the proposed one billion euros could come from raising the state health insurance subsidy for pensioners.