You have to be able to afford health care; there is still two-tier prevention
Vienna (OTS) – “Prevention instead of repair medicine benefits everyone: more healthy years of life for people, and long-term savings for the public health system,” says Ombudsman Bernhard Achitz on the occasion of World Health Day on April 7th: “So no one can understand that vaccinations still have to be paid for by yourself if the National Vaccination Committee recommends it in the ‘Austrian Vaccination Plan’. Not only do vaccinations have to be free, access could also be made easier, for example through public vaccination lines with central appointment management.”
People put off vaccinations because they are waiting for free offers
People who cannot afford urgently recommended vaccinations often contact the Ombudsman’s Office and ask when the recommended vaccinations will finally be offered free of charge. “Lately there has been another aspect: people have announced that they are thinking about postponing vaccinations until there is a free offer. This further increases the urgency,” said Achitz.
“Making the HPV vaccination available free of charge to more young people was a good start, because it not only protects those who have been vaccinated, but also others,” says Achitz: “But now we have to continue at full speed! People continue to turn to the Ombudsman because of the expensive herpes zoster vaccination.” He assumes that the public sector could also significantly reduce the costs with central procurement compared to the private price.
Austria likes to save money when it comes to pension provision
Even outside of the topic of vaccination, Austria likes to save money on prevention, and the health system only becomes active when it comes to treating the sick. Pressure sore mattresses are not approved in time to prevent bedsores, but only when the mostly older people are already bed sores. Measures to prevent falls also need to be expanded.
Parent-child pass: Transitional regulation against 1,300 euro fines necessary
One of the most important prevention tools is the mother-child pass, which was introduced 50 years ago this year and is now being replaced by the digital parent-child pass. “There is finally an improvement in sight here,” says Ombudsman Achitz. The Ombudsman has criticized for years that parents lose 1,300 euros in childcare benefit if they have mandatory examinations carried out but forget to send in the confirmation. Now the proof should be transmitted fully automatically. “But this should not come into force until 2026. Until then, a temporary solution is necessary so that parents are not punished so severely, even though they have completed all the required examinations.”
Another shortcoming of the new regulation is that the removal of the obligation to submit paper documents does not appear to apply to all parents. In these special cases, it should be made clear how parents are protected from a reduction in childcare allowance. Achitz: “The health insurance company should have to inform you in good time that they should send confirmations.”
SERVICE: The Ombudsman’s Office is at post@volksanwaltschaft.gv.at and the free service number 0800 223 223.
Questions & Contact:
Florian Kräftner
Media spokesman in the office of Ombudsman Mag. Bernhard Achitz
+43 664 301 60 96
florian.kraeftner@volksanwaltschaft.gv.at
volksanwaltschaft.at
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