In 2021, Annette Leja took on the role of Provincial Councillor for Health in Tyrol, but returned to her original job as hospital manager at the Kettenbrücke Sanatorium of the Sisters of Mercy after the 2022 provincial elections. We met Ms. Leja for a short interview and asked her about her experiences.
What made you decide to take the plunge into politics?
There are essentially two ways into government office. Either you work your way up through the classic "ox tour" or, as Constitutional Minister Edtstadler recently put it, you are invited into politics. For me it was the latter. I was even given time to make a decision, which is actually unusual. Joining the health department without any significant party political connections and in the middle of the pandemic was a brave decision. Especially when you have a really good job that is a lot of fun. I chose politics because I like to shape things and enjoy challenges. I like working with and for people and felt that I could make a good contribution, especially in these difficult times, thanks to my many years of work in the healthcare sector. It was also important to me that my move into politics was in the interests of women.
After your deeper insight: what can you report from the political sphere with regard to the role of private clinics?
Politicians are responsible for the broad provision of healthcare to the entire population. It is therefore in the nature of things that the issues and development of the public healthcare system are given priority. Private clinics are only mentioned in passing, if at all, and are viewed critically. "Two-tier medicine" is clearly rejected by all political groups according to the motto "What must not be ... is not." For me personally, the principle of the solidarity system and the principle of benefits in kind are indispensable in Austria. The entire population must have access to good and promptly available medical care. What concerns me after many years of dedicated work - especially in the high-quality development of the private sector - is that the work in this area is politically little appreciated. A free play of forces will never make sense in the healthcare sector, but in a good framework one could certainly think of private institutions as a supplement or alternative to the public system. I therefore believe it is important that we not only make a solid contribution to the care of the population, but also communicate this. We should also think about how we can create more public benefit in the future.
What insights have you gained in your private or professional life after your experience in politics?
I found my time in the Tyrolean provincial government to be very good, I enjoyed my tasks and the work and I was able to make a positive impact. The atmosphere was positive and very constructive, both in the political team and with the civil servants. At the same time, you are thrown in at the deep end from the moment you are sworn in; there is no onboarding and no grace period. You are exposed right from the start, you have to drive issues forward and it's best not to make any mistakes. The ice is thin. Especially during the pandemic, with the difficult decision-making situations and the sometimes very heated mood among the population, the challenge was great. However, I quickly learned how to navigate the various issues and problems and how to work with and between interest groups. It is remarkable how your own performance and focus increase with this challenge. You get to know people and situations that you are not confronted with in a "normal" working day. Despite everything that can be criticized, a lot of positive things happen in political work. We need clever and committed people who work in politics and we need the appropriate appreciation for this. My return to the Kettenbrücke Sanatorium was ultimately not a decision against politics, but rather in favor of working in my "professional home".
What values are essential after your experience in politics but also in private clinics?
The most important goal in politics as well as in management functions in the healthcare sector is always to improve people's lives with a focus on the sustainability of the measures. "Quick wins" only help to a very limited extent in both fields. However, this perspective is very difficult to adopt, especially in politics. I am interested in continuous further development, taking into account the people involved in the process and other relevant factors. The overall goal of "making life better or healthier" must never be lost. Both in political life and in the healthcare sector, we are repeatedly confronted with situations where systems or groups begin to be self-satisfied and focus primarily on themselves. The focus must be on people, be they citizens, patients, employees or others. Dealing with the responsibility of "borrowed power" must also be careful and sometimes humble. This applies to politics and management.
