There is little agreement between Graz Medical University and the Styrian Medical Association to collaborate with Sigmund Freud University in Vienna, presented by the state of Styria on Thursday. The state pays tuition fees for 60 students, 150,000 euros each. In return, the recipients take on the responsibility of working for Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft (KAGEs) for ten years. ÄK-President Harwig Lindner speaks of a “bottom-up prank”.
This message has been updated. New: Criticism from Styrian Greens and KPÖ (paragraphs 7 and 8)
Helmut Samonig, rector of Graz Medical University, confirmed a statement in a report by Klein Zeitung: “Graz Medical University has never been involved with Sigmund Freud in the Styria-sponsored training attack. The so-called private university or its subject matter Its declared content raises a number of unanswered questions from Med UniGraze’s perspective ৷ MediGraze will continue to make proposals that state governments have not yet adopted ৷ to address the “doctor deficit” in a future-oriented, functional, and constructive (and cost-effective) way.
Styrian money in Vienna
Lindner said the basic problem would not be solved by more students: “The working conditions should be solved so that doctors stay in Styria. They are mostly worse than in other federal states. This applies to state hospitals as well as branches. The fact that Styrian money goes to Vienna instead of staying in Styria is a prequel to the bourgeoisie. “
The state of Styria has described the collaboration between Sigmund Freud Private University (SFU), KAG and the Styrian Health Fund as a win-win situation: “Not only students but also local patients will benefit. ÖVP) In the transmission of communications to the state of Steria.
Application until April 5, 2022
University applicants will be able to apply for the admission process until April 5, 2022. Upon successful completion of the admission process, the SFU will initially select 20 potential physicians for the scholarship program. Each year, a total of 200 to 220 human medicine studies are offered at Sigmund Freud Private University. The collaboration between Styria and the University of Vienna lasts three years, which means a total of 60 women and men can receive scholarships. In total, the Styrian Health Fund is investing nine million euros in scholarships.
For Styrian FPÖ, the collaboration model is a “first step in the right direction”: “Given the widespread shortage of doctors in the private sector, the expansion of such scholarship systems – as FPÖ has been claiming for years – will be a necessity.” Public universities need a similar model for potential doctors who, after completing their studies, are committed to working in the regional care system – for example as a country doctor or public health officer. “Lastly, local universities – funded by the public sector – train a reasonable number of doctors, many of whom do not then work as doctors in Austria,” said Marco Trailer, FPÖ health spokesman, according to a broadcast.
The Styrian Greens were upset. Health spokesman George Schwartz asked the state councilor via broadcast why Graz Med Uni was not involved. “With the help of private universities, only two levels of medicine will continue to be promoted,” he said, warning against making the same mistake in medical fields as in the nursing field, where there would be too much “flow” to the private sector. . “With the nine million euros that private universities will receive from the Syrian state, much-needed improvements in the health sector can be promoted to ensure a sustainable solution.”
KPÖ described the Styria Scholarships as a “fatal signal”: “Subsidizing private universities cannot be the work of the Styria state – certainly not indescribable in Vienna. Of course more medical studies, but not in public universities, but in privately expensive universities.” Claudia Clement-Wethaler. “Nine million euros of tax money can be invested in KAGEs in a better working environment.”