Vienna’s public hospitals will get a €3.3bn upgrade by 2030, as authorities respond to rising patient numbers and a growing workforce.
The Vienna Health Association (Wigev) reported a 6.2% rise in new hires in 2024, with around 12,000 applications for clinical roles this year. This has brought the total number of full-time employees to 27,693. Staffing levels now stand at 94% for doctors and 95% for nurses.
Rise in Patient Numbers
Outpatient clinics saw a 5.7% increase in patients last year, reaching 5.2 million, while inpatient admissions rose by 3.3% to 243,636.
Wigev’s Medical Director, Michael Binder, said the demand was being driven by Vienna’s growing and ageing population. He also noted that some illnesses had become more common due to reduced medical contact during the pandemic, calling it “an internationally observed phenomenon.”
€3.3bn Hospital Upgrade
To modernise hospitals and care homes, Wigev is investing €3.3bn over the next six years. Deputy Director General Herwig Wetzlinger said the plan includes 30 projects for Vienna General Hospital (AKH).
Renovation work will be managed to minimise disruption, with temporary wooden structures, such as the South Ward building at AKH, being used to ensure services continue.
AI to Enhance Medical Imaging
Digital innovation is also a key focus, with artificial intelligence now being used in radiology. However, Binder stressed that AI is not being used for diagnoses but rather “to save time on imaging procedures and significantly improve image quality.”
The digitisation of pathological samples is also expected to “completely transform” workflows in pathology.
