The president of the Tyrolean Medical Association, Stefan Kastner, has two specific demands or proposals against the shortage of doctors and the overload of hospitals. A legal “short-term job guarantee” for medical graduates is needed against the former, an offensive on the 1450 health hotline for the latter.
That many graduates leave Austria after their medical studies and go abroad is “understandable,” says Kastner in the APA interview. “You often have to wait months for internships. They often find a job abroad faster and are often treated with more respect.” Often a “mentor system” is provided for the future young doctors and they also receive guidance outside the workplace in the beginning. “They find a job faster, under better conditions. And it is often not primarily about financial aspects,” Kastner warns of a rethink in this country.
A legally standardized job guarantee could prevent this and help young people to be ‘picked up’ more quickly after their studies. “That is not happening at the moment,” criticizes the highest professional representative of doctors in Tyrol. There are currently “more interested parties than vacancies for courses because there are no permanent vacancies”. Kastner’s demand to hospitals is therefore: create more training places. In addition, you need to find out where and in what area you will need doctors in the future.
Health hotline 1450 to relieve hospitals
A suitable means of combating excessive patient flows to hospitals is the health hotline 1450, which became ‘famous’ during the pandemic as a corona hotline. People could call there and then receive competent information as to whether their complaints are really reason enough to go to a hospital immediately.
Kastner refers to a similar hotline advice focus in the US or Switzerland. Therefore, a “1450 offensive” must be launched, including the provision of the necessary resources and the corresponding application.
Kastner defends against LH criticism
Kastner has nothing to gain from the sharp criticism of the medical association by Burgenland’s governor Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) in recent days and the accusation that it is a brake on reforms. And, as expected, nothing with the demand that the House should have the “power” removed. The Medical Association is “ready for reform, but you can only do it together”.
Doskozil’s demand, which wants to create a legal obligation to keep medical students in Austria after their studies, also falls short. This demand must be reversed: politicians have a duty to provide the right employment.
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.
