As decided in the National Council on Thursday, the Minister of Health can change the corona test strategy by decree in the future.
The way is clear for a new test regime in Austria: With a simple majority of votes from the ÖVP and the Greens, it was decided in the National Council on Thursday that the Minister of Health can change the corona test strategy by decree in the future.
The Minister of Health will be authorized, in agreement with the Minister of Finance, to determine by regulation for what purpose, with what test methods and with what frequency screening programs should be carried out at the expense of the federal government, it said.
Free tests only “where they are needed”
The tests are only free “where they are needed,” explained Mückstein in the National Council. In view of the “paradigm shift” caused by the omicron variant, many experts would advise changing the test strategy, he said.
The tests will be free of charge until March 31st. Mückstein spoke of “targeted testing”, but assured that tests will continue to be “of course free” where they are needed.
Bitter news for Vienna, which plays a leading role in the PCR test strategy: Mayor Michael Ludwig has emphasized several times that he would like to keep the free tests and will try to change the federal government’s mind. The decision in the National Council now puts a spoke in the wheel.
“Mass tests took care of that after two years. Targeted testing makes sense, untargeted ones don’t,” emphasized ÖVP MP Werner Saxinger in his speech in the National Council.
Sharp criticism from SPÖ
The SPÖ not only rejected the “smashing” of the functioning test regime, but also spoke out strictly against the empowerment provision: Mückstein would no longer be able to decide on test strategies based on medical necessity, but would have to “beg and ask” to go to the finance minister, criticized for example the former SPÖ Minister of Health Alois Stöger.
FPÖ health spokeswoman Dagmar Belakowitsch wants “finally to stop the unnecessary tests for everyone”. As you can see in comparison with other countries, the free testing did not bring Austria anything, only debts “that the next generation has to pay”, Gerald Loacker also pleaded for an end.
The planned premiums for communities with a particularly high vaccination rate failed in the National Council due to a missing two-thirds majority. Neither SPÖ nor FPÖ wanted to agree, “Heute” reported.