As usual, the battle for financial settlement dragged on into the fall. In a round of top representatives of the local authorities, no agreement could be reached on Monday morning. Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) and Social Affairs Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) then announced their willingness to make an additional ten billion euros available for the areas of health and care over five years.
It is partly about fresh money, partly about subsidies that already exist, but which would expire, such as the compensation for care recovery. In addition, federal politicians made it clear that reforms would have to take place in exchange for the subsidies: “Money alone is not the solution, of course reforms are also needed,” Brunner stressed.
Rauch: ‘Money must be linked to reforms’
Rauch once again underlined the direction in which the health care system must move away from the hospitals towards the practice area, which is about to be expanded into primary care. In any case, fresh money must be linked to reforms. The Minister of Social Affairs announced that a whole series of legislative changes would be required.
Brunner insisted on a clear division of tasks and also on verifiability via a transparency database. The federal government is ready to make a noticeable contribution to themes such as childcare, care and health. However, only all regional authorities could collectively face the challenges ahead.
There was no agreement today on the controversial tax-sharing key, so there were no partial agreements either. A result is presented in its entirety, the Finance Minister emphasized. Detailed proposals will be worked out in the coming weeks and the search for a result will continue in the autumn.
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.
