Region: Austria
Health

For the preservation of unrestricted access to medical specialists

Petition is addressed to
Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) & National parliament

21,635 signatures

21,218 from 19,000 for quorum in Austria Austria

21,635 signatures

21,218 from 19,000 for quorum in Austria Austria
  1. Launched 27/05/2025
  2. Time remaining > 4 months
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Petition is addressed to: Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) & National parliament

This petition advocates for high-quality medical care for the Austrian population – without unnecessary detours or time loss. A referral-based healthcare system, as in the past, would not only lead to massive overburdening of general practitioners but also to unacceptable delays in diagnosis and treatment.

We therefore call on policymakers to preserve free access to specialists for all insured individuals! Our goal is to ensure low-threshold, efficient, and optimal care within the framework of existing insurance benefits – without additional costs for patients.

Reason

Dear Patients,
As you may have already learned from media reports (e.g. ORF), the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) is planning to restrict the free access of insured persons to specialist doctors.

Specifically, it is proposed that a consultation with a general practitioner must first take place as a mandatory step. Only if deemed necessary will a referral to a specialist be issued. This would mean that a direct visit to your specialist, as you have been accustomed to, would no longer be possible. Even in the case of a private doctor (Wahlarzt), ÖGK would no longer reimburse the costs without a referral.

This would represent a significant deterioration in medical care for the population. Therefore, we – a coalition of independent specialists from various disciplines (surgery, dermatology, ENT, internal medicine, orthopaedics and traumatology, pulmonology, and urology) – are addressing you with this petition and asking for your support!

Help us maintain access to specialists for all insured persons!
Our goal is to ensure low-threshold, efficient, and high-quality care within the existing insurance framework – without additional costs for patients.

Thank you for your support, Dr. Michael Lindtner , Gmunden
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Petition details

Petition started: 05/27/2025
Collection ends: 11/15/2025
Region: Austria
Topic: Health

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