The current tender for the planned primary care center (PVZ) caused outrage at the most recent meeting of the Völkermarkt local council. Because, as reported by the Kleine Zeitung, unlike in the districts of Wolfsberg and Spittal an der Drau, where the center has to be built directly in the district capitals, this is used to search for an operator across the district in southern Carinthia. The Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), which is carrying out the operator search together with the Carinthian Health Fund, cited an unoccupied insurance position for a general practitioner in Bleiburg/Pliberk as the reason for this. “The tender therefore provides for greater flexibility in agreement with the state,” said the ÖGK press office.
People in the district capital will not accept that the future primary care unit (PVE) could theoretically be built south of the Drau. In an urgent motion, the SPÖ and the local council of the municipality of Völkermarkt are calling for “in connection with the current tender for a health insurance contract office for a primary care center in the Völkermarkt district, analogous to the tenders in Wolfsberg and Spittal/Drau, to ensure that the district capital of Völkermarkt is secured as a so-called 'macro location'. “ “The resolution, which was unanimously supported by the ÖVP and FPÖ, was addressed to the ÖGK, the social insurance for the self-employed, and the public insurance company Civil servants, railways and mining, the Carinthian Health Fund and the State of Carinthia.
Unity between the parties
“The tender was of course not what we as a municipality wanted,” said Völkermarkt Mayor Markus Lakounigg (SPÖ) after reading out the petition before the vote in the local council. “The urgency of this application is not only urgent, but overwhelming,” said city councilor Gerald Grebenjak, explaining the FPÖ’s approval. Health officer and deputy mayor Aaron Radaelli (SPÖ) was pleased about the unity of all parties – the ÖVP agreed without speaking. As one of the arguments for a primary care center in the district capital north of the Drau, Radaelli cited the density of general practitioners with health insurance contracts. This is – also with regard to the daily population relevant to planning for the PVZ – much higher in the communities south of the Drau than to the north.
These differences are confirmed by the ÖGK. “In rural areas, there are fewer residents per position, so that despite the lower population density, supply close to home is guaranteed and longer journeys are avoided,” is the reason for this from their press office. With regard to the resolution, the ÖGK press office repeats its statement that, based on the needs analysis, several locations would “in principle” be considered in the district, “in addition to the city of Völkermarkt, including the city of Bleiburg/Pliberk, where there is an unfilled general practitioner position .” “. The decision for the location is made by examining the applicant's supply concept and the supply situation.
Deadline for applicants is running
What does Bleiburg Mayor Stefan Visotschnig (SPÖ) say about his community once again emerging as a possible location for the PVZ? “I see it as very positive that the ÖGK is thinking about rural areas,” says Visotschnig happily. There is also space in his city that could be adapted for such a center with little effort. “On top of that, Bleiburg is easily accessible by both car and train,” he says. In addition to the currently unoccupied cash register position, according to Visotschnig, a family doctor in the municipality south of the Drau will soon be retiring.
To set up a primary care unit as a health insurance contract office, at least two general practitioners must join forces with a qualified nurse and an ordination assistant. Applications are still possible until January 28, 2025. The centers to relieve the burden on hospital outpatient clinics are financed by the social insurance providers, the state and the Carinthian Health Fund.
