“The Private Healthcare Sector Cannot Replace Public Hospitals: A Reality Check”

The private healthcare sector is growing and growing – but it cannot replace public hospitals. That won’t change any time soon either.

Vienna, a few weeks ago. A prominent lawyer invited some friends to a downtown restaurant. All older ladies and gentlemen from the upper middle class. The mood is exuberant.

At some point, the topic of the Austrian health system and the declining quality of medical care for the population came up. “Thank God,” says the lawyer, “we all have private supplementary insurance. And are secured in an emergency.” One of those present is a doctor in a Vienna community hospital. And enlightens the group.