Dispute between private doctors and the coalition over the rules of public health insurance
The three-party coalition in Austria is facing an internal conflict after the NEOS party rejected the SPÖ proposal that allows private doctors to treat insured patients under the public health insurance at fixed prices, raising tensions over the government's healthcare agenda.
The SPÖ aims to increase citizens' access to healthcare by allowing private doctors to treat some patients at public health insurance rates. It is expected that this will include about ten to fifteen percent of the capacity of private doctors, according to the SPÖ's Ministry of Health.
The NEOS party strongly opposed this proposal, with health spokesperson Christoph Bramhofer stating that forcing independent doctors to accept fixed fees is unacceptable. NEOS instead suggests that the health insurance fund fully cover the costs of private doctors if appointments are not available with contracted doctors within the public system.
The Austrian Medical Association also rejected the proposal, describing it as an attack on the healthcare system. The president of the association, Johannes Steinhart, confirmed that private doctors play a key role in supporting the public healthcare system and ensuring patient care.
The Green Party criticized the internal conflict within the coalition, describing it as "the SPÖ's failure to gain the support of its partners," warning that patients and insured citizens are the ones who ultimately pay the price for political conflicts.