Healthcare in Austria
The healthcare in Austria is one of the most developed in Europe as the state invests in it more than 11% of GDP, while the average for European countries is about 10%. Any resident in Austria has access to high-quality medical services, regardless of residence and insurance. Austria ranks second in Europe after Greece due to the amount of medical practitioners, which influences 70% of Austrians who are happy with the quality of medicine in the country as their health entrusted to professionals.
Healthcare in Austria
Healthcare structure in Austria is quite complex:
- organization and management is under federal and local authorities;
- self-government bodies regulate social insurance and quality of medical services;
- federal land and insurance organizations allocate funds;
Public funding, while only 24.8% is at the expense of the Austrians, covers more than 75% of health care costs in Austria.
The fairy-like country, Austria has state planning distributing the equipment countrywide. Moreover, the amount of hospitals and doctors here are one the densiest. Patients prefer in-hospital stay when undergoing treatment.
Healthcare in Austria accepts only insurance.To get access to all medical services; you have to get an E-Card serving both an insurance and a medical record. Any insurance company can provide it.The residents under permit get their card from employing company.
Insurance has different tariff plans. On average, it costs up to 50 euros for minors, while the elderly pay up to half a thousand euros per month.
Despite the appropriate level of the health services, there are still private doctors in Austria. Hovewer, Austriansuse their services less, mostly in case when they need instant reference to a narrow expert avoiding waiting in a long line at state hospital.
Ambulance in Austria
Ambulance call centre in Austria responds to a call instantly. Emergency care services available for all residents and tourists in the country, regardless of employment and health insurance. To call for an ambulance, dial one of the following numbers:
- 144 – ambulance;
- 141 – emergency medical assistance;
- 112 - Europe-wide emergency service.
There are many volunteers engaged in healthcare in Austria.
How to book an appointment with a doctor in Austria?
There are no polyclinics in the country, so one have to start from consulting a family doctor on his health condition - about your health condition. Prior to an appointment with a doctor in Austria, clarify whether he accepts patients under your health insurer. If not, you will have to pay extra for the visit.
The consultation of the family doctor implies referral for tests, examinations by narrow experts, and treatment prescription. Narrow experts accept no-refferal visits as well. Hovewer, in this case visiting a doctor in Austria clarify weather you pay extra or the insurance will cover it.
An appointment with a doctor in Austria must be booked via phone. To do this, you need to know the number of a specific clinic or practitioner. There are also special services that allow you to make an appointment with the chosen specialist online.
What is the waiting time for an appoinment?
The booking to a doctor is usually is full two weeks ahead. However, if you have acute condition and need an urgent consultation with a doctor in Austria, don’t wait and contact the nearest clinic - Krankenhaus. The nurse at the check-in desk will refer you to the needed expert after clarifying your symptoms. The patients with acute conditions are advised to call the ambulance to get to the hospital.
The charge for a consultation with a doctor in Austria
The price for an appointment with doctor in Austria can reach 50-100 euros. The insuarance reimburses 80% to the patient who paid to the visit to a private doctor. The cost of a doctor's consultation in Austria depends on his field. A family doctor charges about 50 euros per appointment; the price for narrow specialists is much higher.
Prescription drugs in Austria
You can get a prescription for medicine at any pharmacy in Austria calling Apotheke here. Only day cay items available with no prescription. Austrian doctors use antibiotics for treatment videly, and those are sold with a prescription only as well as strong painkillers. The med marijuana in Austria is a legally sold drug. Prescriptions in pharmacies in Austria is chargeable and cost extra 5 euros, while the insurance covers the rest.
How to get an instant and affordable consultation with a doctor in Austria?
You can use the VideoDoc online service if you need to consult a doctor in Austria.The cost of the consultation is only 10 euros. The doctor sends the prescription to you via SMS or at the e-mail. Any pharmacy accepts it.
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