According to a report by the Court of Auditors (RH), the number of healthy life years has fallen in Austria. Binding measures by the federal government are needed to improve the health of the population, it is said. In addition, the measures already adopted, such as the reformed mother-child passport, must finally be implemented.
After all, the government itself has decided that in 2023 everyone in Austria must spend another two years in good health. This was decided nine years ago as one of the ten “Austrian health goals”. However, the health situation has deteriorated since then. In 2019, the healthy life years at the age of 65 still averaged 9.75 according to Statistics Austria. Previously (2014) this was 11.35 healthy life years at the same age.
Many chronic diseases
National and international analyzes attribute this, among other things, to the high proportion of the population with chronic, non-communicable diseases such as obesity or mental illness. The need for targeted preventive measures is therefore great, according to the report of the Court of Auditors. Many measures, for example to improve the nutrition of children, were not mandatory. According to the Court of Auditors, industry initiatives are also responsible for reducing the sugar and salt content of foodstuffs.
With regard to the new digital parent-child passport, the Court of Auditors state that the changes have still not been implemented at the end of 2022. They were developed in 2019. The financing had not yet been finally clarified after three years.
Criticism of inadequate hygiene measures
There was also criticism of inadequate hygiene measures. In Austria, about 2,400 people die every year after being infected with germs in hospitals. Appropriate hygiene measures could prevent 20 to 30 percent of deaths.
In addition, the representatives of the Court of Audit recommend, among other things, to secure sustainable financing for successful prevention projects, to improve the data quality for medical checks and the reports thereon.
Ministry of Health: Implement new projects
In a statement, the Ministry of Health pointed out that some healthcare projects are currently being worked on. Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) is committed to ensuring that preventative and preventative medicine is integrated into standard funding. Prevention and care are essential levers to enable people in Austria to age healthily and to finance the health system in the long term.
In 2016, the government spent 2.441 billion euros on health promotion and prevention. Most of the money went to social security. Background: The report now presented by the Court examines the years 2014 to 2019.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
