“The reduction of inequalities in health has received increasing attention in the past years. Ensuring health equity for all in Austria is one of the Austrian Health Targets (target 2). The promotion of health equity moreover features a guiding principle across all targets (BMGF, 2017u).”

Source: Bachner F, Bobek J, Habimana K, Ladurner J, Lepuschütz L, Ostermann H, Rainer L, Schmidt A E, Zuba M, Quentin W, Winkelmann J. Austria: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 2018; 20(3): 1 – 256.

“Since 1995, the Austrian Anti-Poverty Network (Armutskonferenz) connects more than 40 welfare organizations, education and research institutions or social initiatives in order to channel the interests of people in, or at risk of, poverty. Addressing health disparities, the network raises public awareness of existing, self-perceived access barriers of needy people to health care (Armutskonferenz, 2017). It is also represented in the plenary of the Austrian Health Targets and is an active member of several working groups on individual targets (esp. “Ensure health equity for all in Austria”). The Handbook Poverty in Austria (Dimmel et al., 2014) provides evidence and policy options for reduction of poverty and health disparities.

“A recent study commissioned by the BMASGK based on data collected for the Austrian Health Interview Survey (ATHIS) 2014 investigated connections between health status and social environment in the Austrian context. It confirmed international findings that socially disadvantaged population groups suffer from poor health more often and are more exposed to health risks than those who are more advantaged. This particularly concerns people with low income and the long-term unemployed as well as people with low levels of education or with a migration background (Statistics Austria, 2016a). In the context of the EU “Europe 2020” goals, the Austrian government has implemented the goal “Fighting poverty and social exclusion” as one of the core goals (BKA, 2017c).

“At the GÖG, the Task Force Socioeconomic Determinants of Health has been established to facilitate the exchange of stakeholders from research, policy and practice (Braunegger-Kallinger and Ladurner, 2014). The Health Impact Assessment support unit has a strong focus on health equity taking potential effects of new policies on health equity into account (GÖG, 2017a). Health equity has also been defined as a priority of the Austrian Health Promotion Fund to reduce health inequalities due to socioeconomic disparities (FGÖ strategy on health equity 2021) (FGÖ, 2017b).”

Source: Bachner F, Bobek J, Habimana K, Ladurner J, Lepuschütz L, Ostermann H, Rainer L, Schmidt A E, Zuba M, Quentin W, Winkelmann J. Austria: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 2018; 20(3): 1 – 256.

“The gradual establishment of Regional Early Childhood Intervention Networks (Frühe Hilfen) throughout Austria is a successful example for a regional support programme addressing health inequities at source. Early childhood interventions comprise various health promotion services and activities tailored to parents and young children. Special attention is given to socially disadvantaged families and families in particularly stressful life situations. The establishment of regional networks has gradually been advanced since 2011 and was completed in about half of all Austrian districts in 2016 (NZFH, 2017b).”

Source: Bachner F, Bobek J, Habimana K, Ladurner J, Lepuschütz L, Ostermann H, Rainer L, Schmidt A E, Zuba M, Quentin W, Winkelmann J. Austria: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 2018; 20(3): 1 – 256.

Health Systems Facts is a project of the Real Reporting Foundation. We provide reliable statistics and other data from authoritative sources regarding health systems in the US and sixteen other nations.

Page last updated Nov. 11, 2022 by Doug McVay, Editor.