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Preventive Health Measures and Health Promotion
For many years, one of the most essential aims of Austrian health policy has been to improve public health by setting up a comprehensive system of preventive health care and by promoting health – consciousness through education and information. Most recently, health promotion has, in accordance with the concept defined by the WHO in the 1986 Ottawa Charter, been pursued not only thematically (with regard to particular illnesses or risk factors) but, increasingly, in terms of the individual patient’s “setting” or environment as well. Various check – up and health promotion programmes have been added to the list of social security benefits.
Medical check – ups for adults 18 and above
Since 1974 every Austrian citizen has been entitled to a free check-up once a year. This takes the form of a basic examination, which is the same for both sexes, plus a gynaecological examination for women. 786,315 Austrians took up this offer in 2003 and the trend is rising. Since 2005 there has existed a new prevention programme at the core of which lie defined prevention goals, particularly in the areas of widespread illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and old-age complaints. More than ever before, the findings of modern lifestyle-medicine are being integrated in preventive check-ups and the advising role of the doctors is also reinforced. It is no longer just about the early recognition of common illnesses, but also about education and support for health-promoting lifestyle changes with regard to the core themes of physical activity, nutrition and smoking.
Vaccination strategies
Prevention of disease is the health authorities’ most important objective and vaccination plays a central role in the attainment of this goal. Hence the Health Ministry development a concept of vaccination targeted at every child, from birth until completion of compulsory school attendance. The concept includes all vaccinations recommended for children by the National Health Council, i.e. diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, haemophilus influenzae b, poliomyelitis, pneumococci, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B and chickenpox, assuming the child has not yet that illness.
Vaccination is voluntary in Austria and is available free) with the exception of chickenpox) to children from birth until completion of compulsory school attendance. The six-part combination vaccine for immunizing newborns against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, haemophilus influenzae b, hepatitis B and poliomyelitis has been available since early 2001. In order to achieve the highest possible degree of vaccination throughout the population, it is strongly recommended that the vaccination appointments entered in the Mother- Child Medical Card be kept.
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