• austriantimes.at
• croatiantimes.com
• romaniantimes.at
• salzburgtimes.at

Today

• Vienna - Johnny\'s Pub Quiz
• Vienna - Unknown Underground
• Vienna - Childrens Fun

© www.neumayr.cc

27. 04. 12. - 17:00

• more Business news
• RSS Feed Business

27. 04. 12. - 17:00

Cooperating clinics 'can save €2bn'

A study has made aware of immense savings potential in the health sector.

The investigation – carried out by the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS) – shows that Austria’s clinics could cut their costs by two billion Euros in the coming five years by cooperating more closely. IHS experts said hospitals should specialise on certain kind of surgeries and treatment methods. Such reforms could avoid a closure of clinics which make losses mainly for being located closely to another one.

The IHS research also suggests that health sector institutions should strengthen their partnerships regarding the usage of kitchens, clothes cleaning services, data processing and administration programmes. Insurance agencies, federal political institutions and the state’s nine provinces invest around nine billion Euros on services provided at clinics a year. The costs of the country’s healthcare sector as a whole soared from 20 billion Euros in 2007 to 23 billion Euros in 2010.

The budget consolidation package which the government of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and People’s Party (ÖVP) presented in February forces clinics and social insurers to lower their costs by 3.4 billion Euros. Austria’s hospitals were ordered to economise as well.

SPÖ Vienna Health Councillor Sonja Wehsely said federal decision-makers and provincial political leaders agreed with regional health sector officials that general practitioners should be encouraged to intensify their partnership with clinics. She argued that more communication between doctors and clinic ambulances could help to increase the sector’s efficiency. Wehsely said patients were too often consulting hospital s when family physicians were the better option. Opposition politicians criticised the plan for failing to lack precise rules and guidelines. Health sector experts doubt that the planned partnership incentive will lead to a significant reduction of costs.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) appealed on Austria to carry out a drastic reform of its health sector. OECD officials said Austria’s political and economic leaders must finally clarify areas of responsibility. The organisation said there were too many institutions involved in decision-making processes in the sector. International studies show that, with 5.1 per cent, Austria is the OECD member state with the highest share of people in care ahead of Switzerland and Norway with 3.9 per cent each.

The OECD also called for more measures against unhealthy lifestyles in the country. Thirty-six per cent of Austrians smoke on a daily basis. Eurostat, the European Commission’s (EC) statistic agency, said that Austrian smokers need 18 cigarettes a day – four more than the European Union (EU) average. Nearly 60 per cent of Austrian men and more than four of 10 women living in the country are overweight, according to the OECD. Diseases triggered by problems with the cardiac cycle are the most common cause of death in Austria. Over 33,000 people succumbed to such sicknesses in 2009.

Austrian nutrition expert and sport researcher Hans Holdhaus warned that health problems people used to experience at ages between 60 and 80 could soon increasingly occur at the age of only 30 to 50. "We are developing into a sick society," he warned.

Vienna Times

Related articles: political scandals

1. EC warns debt-ridden Austria

   » General News 2012-05-31

   Austria has been criticised for its high public debts.

2. Graz coalition collapses

   » General News 2012-05-31

   People’s Party (ÖVP) Graz Mayor Siegfried Nagl has ended his faction’s partnership with the Greens.

3. FPÖ attacks Wrabetz

   » General News 2012-05-30

   ORF boss Alexander Wrabetz is under fire over his latest relocation calculations.

4. Government's subsidisation reform suffers setback

   » General News 2012-05-29

   The government has failed to reach an agreement with the coalition concerning a reform of Austria’s party subsidisation system.

5. Vienna road toll on the agenda again

   » General News 2012-05-22

   The Vienna Greens are risking a coalition-internal conflict by calling for a city toll.

6. Hollande's growth appeal 'nonsense', says Fekter

   » General News 2012-05-22

   Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) Finance Minister Maria Fekter has launched an attack on the new French president.

7. Petrol traders plan legal action

   » Business 2012-05-17

   The domestic mineral oil industry plans to sue the government about plans to set up a tool regulating fuel prices.

8. Turmöl sales soar

   » Business 2012-05-11

   Austria’s main discount petrol station network earned more in the first three months of this year thanks to the current developments on the energy products sector.

9. SPÖ's big guns trained on Strache

   » General News 2012-05-02

   Vienna Mayor Michael Häupl has warned from a coalition between the People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Freedom Party (FPÖ).

10. Bonuses must mean tax cuts, says ÖVP boss

    » General News 2012-05-02

    The People’s Party (ÖVP) has suggested to lower the tax pressure on companies which share their profits with employees.

Related articles: crisis

1. EC warns debt-ridden Austria

   » General News 2012-05-31

   Austria has been criticised for its high public debts.

2. Property prices keep climbing

   » Business 2012-05-31

   A real estate expert has expressed concerns about property prices in Austria.

3. Graz coalition collapses

   » General News 2012-05-31

   People’s Party (ÖVP) Graz Mayor Siegfried Nagl has ended his faction’s partnership with the Greens.

4. FPÖ attacks Wrabetz

   » General News 2012-05-30

   ORF boss Alexander Wrabetz is under fire over his latest relocation calculations.

5. AUA under pressure as pilots quit

   » Business 2012-05-30

   The number of pilots and stewardesses leaving Austrian Airlines (AUA) because of the upcoming pay cuts is on the rise.

6. TV tax increase ahead

   » Business 2012-05-30

   TV consumers in Austria must pay higher taxes from Friday.

7. Pay cuts scare off AUA pilots

   » Business 2012-05-29

   Dozens of pilots have left Austrian Airlines (AUA) in the past weeks, according to the loss-making carrier’s works committee.

8. Brauner discloses austerity course details

   » General News 2012-05-29

   Viennese Social Democratic (SPÖ) Finance Councillor Renate Brauner has revealed how the city government plans to save one billion Euros within the next five years.

9. Austrian skiers create overnight stay record

   » Business 2012-05-29

   The number of winter season overnight stays by Austrians has reached a new record.

10. Government's subsidisation reform suffers setback

    » General News 2012-05-29

    The government has failed to reach an agreement with the coalition concerning a reform of Austria’s party subsidisation system.

Related articles: business scandals

1. AUA under pressure as pilots quit

   » Business 2012-05-30

   The number of pilots and stewardesses leaving Austrian Airlines (AUA) because of the upcoming pay cuts is on the rise.

2. Pay cuts scare off AUA pilots

   » Business 2012-05-29

   Dozens of pilots have left Austrian Airlines (AUA) in the past weeks, according to the loss-making carrier’s works committee.

3. Pecik defends TA engagement

   » Business 2012-05-24

   Telekom Austria (TA) investor Ronny Pecik has declared himself a team player.

4. Petrol traders plan legal action

   » Business 2012-05-17

   The domestic mineral oil industry plans to sue the government about plans to set up a tool regulating fuel prices.

5. Sickness surge causes AUA cancellations

   » Business 2012-05-15

   Passengers are finally feeling the full impact of the emerging labour conflict at Austrian Airlines (AUA).

6. TA recovers as CEO rejects Pecik fears

   » Business 2012-05-11

   Telekom Austria (TA) is back in the black.

7. Turmöl sales soar

   » Business 2012-05-11

   Austria’s main discount petrol station network earned more in the first three months of this year thanks to the current developments on the energy products sector.

8. Maier demands rail tunnel referendums

   » General News 2012-05-01

   Outgoing People’s Party (ÖVP) parliament member (MP) Ferdinand Maier has suggested to let Austrians decide about the future of the various Austrian railway tunnel projects.

9. Cooperating clinics 'can save €2bn'

   » Business 2012-04-27

   A study has made aware of immense savings potential in the health sector.

10. Leitl denies 'bullying businesses' claim

    » Business 2012-04-26

    The president of the Austrian Economy Chamber (WKO) has rejected accusations that companies are bullying elderly employees.

Elton John - Vienna concert tonight
Elton John is performing at the Stadthalle this evening.

Bathing ban remains on Donauinsel
Swimmers looking to escape the heat wave have been warned to avoid the Donauinsel because of possible infection.

Emergency doctors and security at the Donauinselfest
Security and emergency services will be working around the clock at the 30th Donauinselfest in Vienna this weekend as 200 acts take to the stage.

Better road security for the elderly
A two-day conference on "mobility and road safety in an ageing society" which kicks off tomorrow at the Palais Ferstel (Vienna) will look for measures to improve the security of road users over 60 years of age.

Better road security for the elderly
A two-day conference on "mobility and road safety in an ageing society" which kicks off tomorrow at the Palais Ferstel (Vienna) will look for measures to improve the security of road users over 60 years of age.

Heat causes damage to the West motorway
High temperatures have caused damage to the A1 "Westautobahn" motorway from Lower-Austria to Vienna.

Red Light Process starts again in Vienna
The so-called "Red Light Process" is being continued in the regional court in Vienna today.

Gay pride in the sunshine
More than 150,000 people took part in the 18th edition of the Vienna gay pride parade this weekend.

Registration for Vienna Childrens Uni now open
The children’s university (Kinderuni Wien) from July 8 to 20 will offer a variety of seminars, presentations and workshops.

Father saves his son from pool
A three-year-old who almost drowned in a pool accident in Waidhofen an der Thaya (Lower-Austria) was narrowly saved by his father.