Patient pays the price

Rush on elective doctors sets alarm bells ringing

More and more patients would rather pay private fees to a doctor of their choice than wait what feels like forever for an appointment with a statutory health insurance doctor. A parliamentary question shows the enormous extent of this. The example of Tyrol illustrates the alarming development. 

There is a lack of general practitioners, ophthalmologists, gynecologists and pediatricians with health insurance contracts. The current list of the Tyrolean Medical Association shows dozens of vacancies. Unfortunately, this has become a familiar picture. Some positions are vacant for years. The consequences of this can be seen in a parliamentary question from the SPÖ to the Minister of Health.