Press releases
2025
New Executive Committee of the Association of Private Hospitals has been appointed
At the General Assembly on 25.09.2025, the members of the Association of Austrian Private Hospitals elected the Executive Committee for the 2025-2030 term of office. Prim. Dr. Josef F. Macher (Klinik Diakonissen Linz) was confirmed as President. This is Macher's fourth term at the helm of the association. "One of my priorities for the
KV private hospitals: Moderate conclusion for 2025
As part of the 2024 collective bargaining negotiations concluded in May 2024, a two-year collective agreement was agreed, which also includes the framework conditions for 2025. Based on the published consumer price indices, the details of the new collective agreement have now been finalized and will remain valid until at least the end of 2025. The agreement takes into account the recent significant fall in the inflation rate and
2024
KV private hospitals: Agreement after lengthy negotiations
At the sixth meeting on May 21, an agreement was reached for the collective agreement for private hospitals after difficult rounds of negotiations. The employers' attractive offer, which is well above the inflation rate and brings a significant real wage increase, was ultimately decisive. The collective agreement will come into force retroactively from April 1, 2024
Private clinics regret lack of willingness to reach agreement on the part of employee representatives
Although the employers' side made an extremely attractive offer from the first round of negotiations on the collective agreement of the Association of Austrian Private Hospitals (VPKA), which was also continuously improved, no agreement could be reached in the five rounds to date. The private clinics see incomprehensible delaying tactics on the part of the trade union, which are based on
2023
KV negotiations for private clinics: Employers pleased with agreement after tough negotiations
After a long tug-of-war, an agreement was reached in the collective bargaining negotiations for the employees of the Austrian Association of Private Hospitals. The constructive settlement negotiations at the Federal Conciliation Office, which the employers' side had initiated after the weeks-long standstill in negotiations following vida's decision to strike, played a key role in this. "The step of appealing to the Federal Conciliation Office was unusual. After
CLA negotiations for private clinics: Employer representatives criticize the union's unwillingness to reach an agreement
The first meeting before the Federal Conciliation Office, which was called by the Association of Private Hospitals for arbitration due to the stalled collective bargaining negotiations, was unsuccessful on March 9. No union representative attended the meeting. The two parties had previously held further talks and attempted to reach an agreement. While the agreement of the committees
Offer still in place: private clinics call on Federal Conciliation Office
In the run-up to the strike announced by vida for February 14 at Austrian private clinics, the employers' representatives have made it clear that their offer goes far beyond that communicated by vida. In addition to an above-inflation hourly wage increase for all occupational groups, the offer includes a reduction in working hours and a minimum wage.
Private clinics regret renewed breakdown of negotiations by vida
The sixth round of collective bargaining for private hospital employees has also ended without a result. Employer representatives have identified a lack of willingness to negotiate on the employee side, which is ultimately to the detriment of employees in private hospitals. The aim of the employers' representatives was to finally reach an amicable collective agreement at the sixth round of negotiations.
Private clinics call on trade union vida to resume negotiations
Despite an attractive offer from the employers' side, no agreement has been reached in the five rounds of collective bargaining of the Association of Private Hospitals (VPKA) to date. A resumption of talks has been agreed for the beginning of the year. The employer side is now surprised to learn of a planned works council conference via the media instead.
2021
Private clinics regret discontinuation of collective bargaining negotiations by the vida trade union
Despite an attractive offer from the employer side, no agreement could be reached in the collective bargaining negotiations of the Association of Private Hospitals (VPKA). On December 3, another negotiation date took place in the collective bargaining negotiations of the Austrian private hospitals. Despite the attractive offer made by the employers, which included a reduction in working hours from 2023 from 40 to
Vision Award 2021 for exemplary employer branding project
Every year, the Vision Award for innovative projects in the field of Austrian private and rehabilitation clinics is presented at the congress of the Association of Private Hospitals. From the large number of submissions, the independent jury selected three winning projects that tackled a controversial problem in the healthcare sector and borrowed from the gaming and aviation industries
"During Corona, recognition was still given to all nursing staff and doctors, now only some of the heroes are being compensated - that's unacceptable!"
While the federal government is planning a tax-free bonus of EUR 500 for doctors and nursing staff in Austria's hospitals and care facilities to honor their achievements during the coronavirus pandemic, doctors and nursing staff are excluded from this bonus if their employer is privately owned and non-denominational.
2020
"No rehab - high risk of irreversible consequences!"
Despite the rising number of infections, patients should take advantage of necessary rehabilitation stays, appeals the Association of Private Hospitals. "If patients postpone their rehabilitation stay for fear of infection, this can have long-term consequences for them," emphasizes Stefan Günther, Secretary General of the Austrian Association of Private Hospitals. Due to coronavirus, many patients are unsure about what their
2.5% salary increase for employees of Austrian private clinics
The employees of the member companies of the Austrian Association of Private Hospitals can look forward to a coronavirus bonus of up to €500 and a 2.5% increase in all salaries and benefits under the collective agreement. Despite the coronavirus crisis and the resulting vacancies in many private healthcare facilities, the agreement with the vida trade union has been successful. Stefan Mag.
"The role of private clinics must be reassessed."
Association of Private Hospitals elects Executive Committee 2020-2025. The Annual General Meeting confirms Prim. Dr. Josef Macher in his function as President of the Association for a further term of office of 5 years. Stefan Günther continues in his role as Secretary General, as do the Vice Presidents Werner Fischl and Georg Semler. "The role of the
Private hospitals demand cohesion for constructive continuation of collective bargaining negotiations
Stefan Günther, chief negotiator and General Secretary of the Association of Private Hospitals, is surprised by the union's displeasure, despite all understanding: "It was the employers who had already presented a fair offer in March, but it was rejected by vida. "After many businesses were completely empty for several weeks
"PRIKRAF funds cover medically necessary treatment"
In the reporting on the Private Hospitals Financing Fund (PRIKRAF), a number of incorrect assertions were made regarding the financing of Austrian private hospitals. The Association of Private Hospitals would like to correct these. "It is simply wrong to claim that money is being given to private hospitals via the PRIKRAF. It is about the remuneration of services,
51% share of women in the upper management level of Austria's private clinics
Private clinics are pioneers when it comes to attractive career and development opportunities. 51% of all managers in the upper management segment of Austrian private clinics are female, according to statistics from the Association of Austrian Private Hospitals. Under the motto "Thank you for giving top performance a face", portraits of female managers from private hospitals will be presented as part of International Women's Day on March 8.
2019
Health checks in private hospitals: Prevention is better than cure
Do health check-ups, as they are commonly known, really improve health? As Prim. Dr. Josef Macher, President of the Association of Private Hospitals and Medical Director and Managing Director of the Diakonissen Clinic in Linz, knows, annual check-ups should be on the agenda of everyone over the age of 40. But not all health checks are the same. What the
Vienna private clinic wins Visionen Award with "One Minute Training"
Innovation Award presented by the Association of Private Hospitals On October 9, 2019, the Association of Austrian Private Hospitals presented the Vision Award for the third time. Outstanding forward-looking projects in private hospitals are honored at the annual VPKA Congress. This year's winner is Wiener Privatklinik, the first clinic in Austria to implement the innovative
"Good therapy must be at the cutting edge of science!"
Individually tailored therapy makes it easier for patients to find their way in everyday life after a rehabilitation stay and also serves as relapse prevention. Austria's privately run rehabilitation centers focus not only on social competence but also on innovation, as three examples from rehabilitation clinics show: By constantly developing therapy equipment and concepts in line with the latest
Private hospitals: 2.85 percent salary increase for employees
In the collective agreement negotiations for the employees of Austrian private clinics, an amicable agreement was reached between the Association of Private Hospitals and the vida trade union in the fourth round of negotiations. Stefan Günther, head of collective bargaining negotiations and Secretary General of the Association of Austrian Private Hospitals, is satisfied with the positive outcome: "Everyone in the private clinics
What you should consider before an operation
As the operation date approaches, you can make an important contribution to the success of the procedure with the right preparation. Detailed discussions with the doctors in charge are the be-all and end-all. The factors that need to be discussed, the precautionary measures that need to be taken in advance and the considerations that need to be made for the time after the operation
Private hospitals regret standstill in KV negotiations
Yesterday's 3rd round of collective bargaining negotiations between the Austrian Association of Private Hospitals and the vida trade union again failed to reach an agreement. The chief negotiator and Secretary General of the Association of Austrian Private Hospitals, Stefan Günther, regrets the stalemate in the negotiations: "We are happy to engage in purposeful talks in order to find a solution to the problems that have arisen.