|
Austria
The Austrian Medical
Association
The Austrian Medical
Association is, by virtue of law, the umbrella organisation of all Austrian State Medical
Associations. In Austria, there is one for each state, ie, nine State Medical
Associations.
It is provided by law that all doctors exercising their profession, either in the hospital
or on a self-employed basis in their practice, including doctors in training (interns) and
dental doctors, are members of the State Medical Association, to which they belong
according to their place of residence.The Medical Association, representing the interests
of the medical profession, is heard not only by authorities, but also by legislative
bodies in all matters concerning doctors. It is, in addition, incumbent on the Medical
Association to keep the medical register, in which all doctors licensed for medical
practice are listed. In Austria, it is the Austrian Medical Association which supervises
the postgraduate training of doctors and is also the licensing institution.Furthermore,
the Austrian Medical Association is the legal bargaining partner in the negotiations of
fees for self-established doctors, with the respective social insurance institutions. The
Medical Association determines together with the respective social insurance institutions
the placement of new practices, and contracts with social health insurance, as well as the
candidate to which the contract will be awarded.In the case of employed doctors, the
Austrian Medical Association has in most of the states the function of a union. In all
states the Medical Association negotiates the special fees for doctors in hospitals
treating and attending patients, who are privately insured.Finally, each State Medical
Association runs a pension fund providing disability and old age pension benefits to
doctors.
Organisation and structure of the Medical
Associations
Every four years the doctors in all Austrian states elect themembers of the Plenary
Assembly, which is done in three electoral bodies, ie, one for the doctors in training
(interns), one for specialists and one for general practitioners. Following this vote, the
Plenary Assembly elects the Board of Management, as well as the president and the
vice-presidents (presidential body).The presidents and vice-presidents of all State
Medical Associations constitute the Plenary Assembly of the Austrian Medical Association.
Within the Board of Management of the Austrian Medical Association larger states are
represented with several members of their presidential body, smaller states with one
member of their presidential committee. The President of the Austrian Medical Association
is elected by the Plenary Assembly of the Austrian Medical Association.
|
MEMBER
ORGANISATIONS
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Malta
Norway
Portugal
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
The Netherlands
United Kingdom |