Gesund sein und bleiben (als Kind) in Österreich

The provision of comprehensive health insurance-based medical care for children living in Austria exhibits considerable regional variation, if it is provided at all. This is due to the continued adherence to outdated and unpopular employment models (solo practitioner, group practices), despite the existence of alternative models (independent outpatient clinics, decentralized outpatient clinics affiliated to hospitals, hybrid models) that could provide a solution and would also be favored by younger female colleagues. The 2024 healthcare reform will, for the first time, prioritize the needs of patients over market interests and territorial protection. The alternative models mentioned have the potential to enhance the appeal of the statutory health insurance sector (employment relationships as in hospitals, including part time), while also ensuring equitable primary care for children throughout Austria, irrespective of parental financial status.

The Pediatric Medical Center Augarten in Vienna Leopoldstadt was founded in 2006, the first Austrian primary care unit in pediatrics as an independent outpatient clinic. Therefore, numbers, facts and evaluated data can be accessed and the operators are considered to be pioneers of pediatric primary care. It can be argued that primary care facilities in pediatrics could play an important role in preventive medicine due to the fact that there is sufficient potential for patients to be cared for and that, according to recent data, the average Austrian lives 12.5 years less in health than the European average. Therefore, it could be suggested that the time to start with prevention is in childhood.

A comprehensive concept for pediatric primary care, along with the growing necessity for preventive care within the framework of public health insurance, must be developed for the entire country of Austria. This also includes (future) employment models that are orientated towards the needs of colleagues as this is the only way to attract sufficient staff.