Fritz Pöltl (FCG-ÖAAB): “We put the needs of the population above the sensitivities of the parties!”
Vienna (OTS) – The red majority in the Vienna Chamber of Labor proves once again that it subordinates the interests of employees to the interests of the SPÖ-Vienna! At the 180th general assembly of the AK-Vienna in November 2024, the FCG-ÖAAB-AK parliamentary group submitted several motions and also successfully brought joint motions with other parliamentary groups – including the FSG – to the AK-Vienna’s decision.
Rejected by FSG
“However, with the votes of the FSG majority, two of our applications were only assigned to the responsible ‘Committee for Social Security and Social Cohesion’ for further treatment,” explains Fritz Pöltl, the top candidate of the FCG-ÖAAB-AK parliamentary group for the upcoming AK- Choice. The motion – “Finally effectively combat the shortage of statutory health insurance doctors in Vienna” as well as the motion – “Don’t abandon employees with post- or long-Covid in Vienna” – were approved by the red party at the committee meeting on March 27, 2024 Majority flatly rejected.
Lack of statutory health insurance physicians
Although the population is repeatedly asked to visit general practitioners and only use hospital outpatient clinics in emergencies, several statutory health insurance positions, especially for pediatricians and neurologists, are currently unfilled. “Why the FSG in the AK-Vienna is shying away from calling on the municipality of Vienna to create appropriate incentive systems for doctors in order to finally be able to fill the open statutory positions is absolutely incomprehensible!” says Fritz Pöltl.
Inaction at City Hall
Many municipalities in the federal states create incentives to fill cash positions. However, the SPÖ-led municipality of Vienna and its city councilor for health, Hacker, are conspicuous by their inaction. The red majority in the AK-Vienna obviously doesn’t even dare to point this out.
Post or Long Covid
The municipality of Vienna, as the hospital maintainer, closed the third special Long Covid outpatient clinic last August without replacement. The post- or long-Covid symptoms that occur as a result of a serious COVID-19 illness and can affect a wide variety of organs require specialist medical clarification and a therapy program to accompany those affected through this often difficult time.
High costs for those affected
The few remaining private special outpatient clinics, such as the Döbling outpatient clinic, are normally paid for privately. Costs of more than €2,000 are not uncommon. Amounts that are difficult for normal employees to afford, especially since those affected are often no longer able to take part in a regular working life due to post-viral symptoms.
Medical odyssey
“The shift to statutory health insurance physicians saves the municipality of Vienna as hospital maintainer money, but for those affected it means an odyssey between the different doctors in the private practice area. Not to mention the additional costs that health insurance has to cover from the contributions of the insured,” says Fritz Pöltl and therefore demands on behalf of the FCG-ÖAAB-AK parliamentary group: “There is an urgent need for interdisciplinary, university-affiliated competence centers with free access for those affected are created! You can see that the SPÖ-led municipality of Vienna is closing outpatient clinics on the one hand and, on the other hand, is refusing to create incentive systems for cash positions.” The red FSG majority in the AK-Vienna not only stands by, but also prevents these grievances from being clearly addressed.
People at the center
For the FCG-ÖAAB-AK parliamentary group, the focus is on the individual and therefore the needs of the population will continue to be placed above the sensitivities of parties, institutions or organizations in the future, as Fritz Pöltl promises.
Questions & Contact:
Group of Christian trade unionists Vienna KR Friedrich Pöltl FCG national managing director Tel.: 01/5344479481 Johann Böhm 1st place 1020 Wien
