The municipality of Neuhofen an der Krems in Upper Austria, with a population of 6,800, has only had one dentist’s office in the past eighteen months. The second ordination ended in October 2021. Despite many attempts by the health insurance fund, a new takeover has failed to date – most recently due to a legal regulation for non-EEA citizens.
The dental office in Kirschengasse in Neuhofen/Krems has been closed since October 2021. This means that only one counter is occupied in the 6,800-resident community. Despite interest, this may remain the case for a while. “She is Iranian and as a third country national is only allowed to have an elective doctor but no health insurance fund. She is a qualified dentist and has been working in Vienna for years,” says Zahra Eslami angrily.
Worked as a dentist for many years
She ran the practice in Neuhofen until 2021. She was born in Iran herself, but has lived in Europe for 37 years, Austria has been her home since 2000. She currently runs a dental practice on Ziegeleistraße in Linz.
At the moment, 20 doctor’s offices in the country are empty
Your colleague’s only option is to obtain Austrian nationality. She already asked. “If she was an artist or a sportswoman, she would already have the red-white-red passport,” says Eslami.
The mayor of Neuhofen who was voted out in 2021 and current SP municipal councilor Günter Engertsberger also considers a relaxation of the regulation necessary: “We have a shortage of doctors and 20 open dentist cash registers. The health insurance fund has also been advertising the position in our municipality for a long time.”
Dental Association refers to laws
When asked, the OÖ-Zahnärztekammer reports: “There is a legal regulation according to which it is not possible for non-EEA citizens to be contracted by health insurers. Naturally, the State Dental Association adheres to the applicable laws. If the other requirements are met, non-EEA citizens can set up their own dental practice and work as a dentist of choice.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
