The threat from the Medical Association of Upper Austria that it wanted to withdraw from the mother-child pass caused quite a stir. Vienna, Lower Austria and Styria have already announced this beforehand. The reason for this is that the fees for examinations have not been increased for 28 years, and the last time an inflation adjustment was made was in 1994.
The Ministry of Health tried to calm down yesterday: The planned reform of this preventive program can be “expected quite promptly,” said Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) yesterday. In addition to an adjustment of the doctors’ fees, a technical further development of the mother-child passport to an electronic version including a reminder system should also be considered. Thomas Fiedler, Federal Specialist Group Chairman of the Medical Association, was pleased about this, but finally wanted action, as he said. The mother-child pass is a “success story that should not end in the 48th year of its existence,” he told OÖN. This model of success should not be jeopardized, “although we are not greedy, but simply want a sign of appreciation after 28 years”.
- OO Today: Imminent end for mother-child passport
Peter Oppelt, head of the University Clinic for Gynecology at the Kepler University Hospital in Linz, also warned yesterday in the OÖN interview to maintain this preventive care system: The offer of free preventive care during pregnancy is also important insofar as pregnant women are significantly older these days and therefore receive medical treatment more often would have to be. “If these women then no longer go to preventive care because they can no longer afford it, this would also affect the health of the child.
Measles vaccination
It would be all the more important, says Oppelt, that organ screening as part of the mother-child pass should also apply to pregnant women of all ages and not just to over 35-year-olds, as is the case now.
Health Minister, LH Deputy Christine Haberlander (VP), on the other hand, reiterated her call for measles vaccination to be included in the mandatory part of the mother-child passport in the course of the reform. (nieg/cdi)
Source: Nachrichten
