Recent events, including the case at Rohrbach hospital where a 55-year-old woman died after several specialist centres were unable to accept her for emergency treatment, have intensified calls for structural reform in Austria’s healthcare system.
At a meeting of the Health Reform Partnership earlier this month, representatives of the federal government, provinces, social insurance, cities, municipalities and governing parties agreed to take joint responsibility for a broad reform agenda.
As part of the reform process, four nationwide reform groups will be established. These groups will begin their work immediately and develop concrete measures:
Clinical emergency care
The next step is an analysis of process structures – with a particular focus on time-critical conditions such as cardiological, vascular and neurological emergencies.
The aim is to ensure clear structures and smooth procedures so that medical staff can concentrate fully on caring for patients.
Digitalisation
Targeted digitalisation of core processes is intended to ensure that medically relevant information reaches the right place – in real time, securely and in full. Digitalisation is not an add-on, but a basic requirement for patient safety.
Public healthcare instead of a two-tier system
There should be an open review of where private services genuinely support the system — and where they may put pressure on public care. As the government noted, access to healthcare cannot become a privilege.
Roles and working conditions
Building on measures already implemented, new roles and competencies will now be defined, training programmes modernised, and fair working conditions placed at the centre.
The reform groups will be given clear tasks and deadlines. The goal is to begin implementing initial measures quickly – binding, verifiable, and in close cooperation between the federal government, the provinces and system partners. An external analysis of the care structure will also be commissioned. This analysis will serve as the basis for all further reform steps.
SPÖ Health Minister Korinna Schumann:
“The tragic events of recent weeks have deeply affected all of us. They remind us that we must pay attention, act, and change structures in the health system so that such events never happen again. Something crucial is at stake: people’s trust in our healthcare system. Restoring that trust is our shared responsibility. We are not standing by – we are acting. With determination, together, and with the responsibility our offices demand.”
ÖVP parliamentary leader and social affairs spokesperson August Wöginger:
“We need reforms in the health sector to ensure the system remains one of the best in the world. Major adjustments are necessary. We need shorter waiting times, more efficiency and better structural planning. The goal is to bring together competencies for planning, management and financing. Achieving this requires constructive cooperation among all stakeholders, which the federal government has initiated through this reform process.”
NEOS social affairs spokesperson Johannes Gasser:
“People in Austria deserve a healthcare system that works reliably – with local access and no long waiting times. For this, we need strategic planning, clear financial and task responsibilities, simpler processes, digital support tools, and more efficient patient management throughout the system.”
19.11.2025.
