This is how long patients in Carinthia wait to see a doctor

Only 51 percent of Austrians are satisfied with their healthcare system, according to a survey conducted ahead of the Austrian Health Forum (AHF) in Bad Hofgastein. This marks the lowest satisfaction level since the start of the AHF's survey series in 2019. Long waiting times for specialist appointments and financial barriers have become major concerns, with nearly a third of respondents reporting they had skipped medical care due to cost in the past year. The survey found that almost half of participants indicated they were waiting five weeks or more for a specialist appointment, with 64 percent considering this wait time unreasonable. In May 2019, satisfaction with the healthcare system stood at 76 percent. Now, the number of satisfied and dissatisfied individuals is nearly equal, with 46 percent expressing either moderate or strong dissatisfaction. Participants showed high approval for preventive care, local health centers, and increased digitalization of services. However, many still perceive the system as primarily focused on acute treatment rather than prevention. According to the AHF, 60 percent would agree to follow a prescribed treatment path for quicker access to a doctor, such as through a health hotline. Eighty-eight percent supported the idea of regional health centers where doctors from different specialties could collaborate. Preventive measures are widely used, with vaccinations being the most common (70 percent), followed by general check-ups (63 percent) and dental prophylaxis (62 percent). Structured prevention programs, counseling services, and prevention courses reached significantly fewer people. Seventy-three percent of respondents supported vaccinations, with 39 percent strongly in favor and 22 percent opposing them. Despite these preventive options, 62 percent of respondents believe the healthcare system focuses more on treating acute illnesses rather than on prevention and maintaining health. “People value prevention highly, are generally positive about vaccinations, and are willing to share their health data for research,” said AHF founder Christoph Hörhan. “However, the dissatisfaction arises because the healthcare system is viewed as a repair shop, and waiting times in some areas are too long.” Planned healthcare reforms aim to address these issues through specialized clinics, increased digitalization, and the health hotline 1450. The AHF conference will take place from October 19 to 20 in Bad Hofgastein, bringing together over 200 participants to discuss how prevention and eHealth can improve healthcare delivery. It is the eleventh edition of the conferences, which occur in spring in Schladming and autumn in the Gastein Valley. In Kärnten, patients face particularly long waits for certain specialists. For example, securing a urology appointment takes an average of 82 days, while a family physician appointment can be arranged within a day. According to Aigul Salmhofer, head of the urology group and senior physician at the clinic, improved therapies against diseases like cancer, an aging population, and increasing patient contact numbers have led to higher demand. However, the number of public physicians has remained unchanged. “There are currently twelve public physicians for half a million residents in Kärnten, and one additional position is being created in Villach-Land,” she noted. Klaus Mitterdorfer, director of the Medical Chamber of Carinthia, stated that the study aligns with their experiences. He emphasized the need to create new positions for public physicians where there is a clear need and to quickly fill existing vacancies. Improved patient guidance is also essential, including strengthening primary care as the first point of contact, directing patients more specifically to specialists, and clearly managing the relationship between outpatient care and hospital services.