Healthcare in Austria

Total health spending per capita, in U.S. dollars PPP-adjusted, of Austria compared amongst various other first world nations.

The nation of Austria has a two-tier health care system in which virtually all individuals receive publicly funded care, but they also have the option to purchase supplementary private health insurance. Some individuals choose to completely pay for their care privately.[1]

Details

Austrian health care spending as a percentage of GDP for 1970 to 2007 compared with other nations

Healthcare in Austria is universal for residents of Austria as well as those from other EU countries.[2] Students from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland who are in possession of a valid national health insurance in their home country merely need the European Health Insurance Card.[3] So called self-insured students have to pay an insurance fee of EUR 52.68 per month.[3]

Care involving private insurance plans (sometimes referred to as "comfort class" care) can include more flexible visiting hours, occupying a private room, and receiving care from a private doctor.[1]

International comparisons

Austria's health care system was given 9th place by the World Health Organization (WHO) in their mid-2000s (decade) international ranking.[1]

The city of Vienna has been listed as 1st in quality of living (which includes a variety of social services) by the Mercer Consultants.[1]

In a sample of 13 developed countries Austria was 5th in its population weighted usage of medication in 14 classes in 2009 and fourth 2013. The drugs studied were selected on the basis that the conditions treated had high incidence, prevalence and/or mortality, caused significant long-term morbidity and incurred high levels of expenditure and significant developments in prevention or treatment had been made in the last 10 years. The study noted considerable difficulties in cross border comparison of medication use.[4]

It was placed 12th in Europe by the Euro health consumer index in 2015. The fact that abortion is not carried out in the public healthcare system reduced its rank.[5]

History

Infant mortality between 1960 to 2009 declined immensely in Austria.

Austria’s health care system was developed alongside other social welfare programs by the Social Democratic Party of Austria in Vienna (during its classical 'Red Vienna' period) initially.[6]

A hospital in Kittsee, photographed June 2006

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bondi, Susie (September 2009). "Austrian Health Care". Association of Americans Resident Overseas. Retrieved April 2, 2011. External link in |publisher= (help)
  2. ↑ The Austrian healthcare system Overview of how it works Accessed: 16 October 2011.
  3. 1 2 Austrian agency for international mobility and cooperation in education, science and research: National health insurance Retrieved: June 26, 2014.
  4. ↑ Office of health Economics. "International Comparison of Medicines Usage: Quantitative Analysis" (PDF). Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Outcomes in EHCI 2015" (PDF). Health Consumer Powerhouse. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  6. ↑ Austria. European Observatory on Health Care Systems

See also

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