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ÄK President Szekeres: “Government must replace budget revenue deficit” – Binder vom Wr. Health network: “Higher health costs even after pandemic”
Vienna (OTS / SK) – The president of the federal party SPÖ, Pamela Rendi-Wagner, the president of the Medical Association Thomas Szekeres and the medical director of the Vienna Health Association, Michael Binder, pointed out the urgency of sufficient funds for Austrian hospitals and warned about cuts planned by the government at a press conference today. Corona has demonstrated with great force how much we depend on a well-functioning public health system: on the ordinations of general practitioners and hospitals, on well-trained doctors and nurses: “They are all the backbone of public health care and the system immune system of our society in the fight against the corona virus, “says Rendi-Wagner.” It would never occur to a responsible government to cut public health care. Unfortunately, that is exactly what is happening: the cut of 130 million euros in hospitals is in black and white in budget documents, amid the greatest health crisis in the Second Republic. ”Millions of euros are missing in states and municipalities due to lower sales tax. In addition, there is a less than 180 million euros, the sum that the federal states will have to reimburse to the social security system in 2021. “In total, a large difference of 350 million euros. This is an attack on our hospitals! “Said the SPÖ leader. Rendi-Wagner and the president of the Medical Association are calling for the budget to be corrected. ****
“It can’t be that the government is cutting healthcare in the biggest healthcare crisis in 100 years. As Minister of Health, I would never have accepted these cuts, that is negligent and a dangerous game with the health of the Austrians ”, warns the leader of the SPÖ. Less in budget means fewer doctors, nurses, and equipment. “It can affect any of us,” Rendi-Wagner said. The SPÖ leader hopes the government will correct its budget and put hospitals on an even more secure base in times of crisis. “Everyone in the country should be able to count on crisis-proof healthcare,” Rendi-Wagner said. The SPÖ will take the federal deficit liability claims to parliament.
It is also clear that a second lockdown would have huge negative consequences for mental health, the job market and the economy and should be avoided. “That is why we have negotiated in the new Covid 19 Measures Law that there can only be one reason for a lockdown, the imminent collapse of healthcare. A confinement should be the last resort! ”
The president of the Medical Association, Thomas Szekeres, explained that the health system is financed based on tax revenues and contributions to social security. The economic downturn means that there is less income and therefore less money for the healthcare system. Two-thirds of hospital costs are staff costs, so a reduction in budget means fewer staff in hospitals. This could also reduce the number of mandatory health insurance doctors. At times like these, when we need more staff, this is counterproductive and should definitely be corrected: Loss of income from social security due to unemployment and deferred contributions from companies must be replaced from the budget so that the health system can continue to finance itself at the same time. previous high level. it can, ”Szekeres demands. “Due to the pandemic, hospitals have lost money, taking more from them instead of financially insuring them is incomprehensible.”
The medical director of the Vienna Health Association, Michael Binder, also emphasized the urgency of adequate funding for the health system and its staff. At the Vienna Health Association, additional spending is estimated at 114 million euros, with a drop in revenue of 87 million euros. “Steps must now be taken here to improve the situation,” Binder said. Because not only are there Covid patients (currently around 300 in Vienna, 60 of them in intensive care) who need special care, but all other illnesses also need to be treated. Binder noted that even after the pandemic, higher costs of rehabilitation measures will follow from Covid diseases. (Final) bj / ls
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