Vienna at a Glance
Health Care in Vienna
Vienna offers excellent health care with over 40 hospitals and specialized services.
Health Insurance
The city offers excellent medical care for all citizens and expatriates. Medical services such as doctor’s appointments and hospital visits are generally free to anyone with a valid Austrian health insurance: As we have pointed out in our article on Working in Vienna, almost every employee is automatically covered by a public health insurance plan.
Additional insurance coverage is optional and not included in the health care plans of the Austrian welfare state. The benefits of additional insurance coverage include higher-quality hospital stays as well as reimbursement of specialists’ fees.
Medical Care and Emergency Services
Vienna boasts over 40 hospitals, specializing in many different fields of medicine. 12 of these clinics are run by the Vienna Hospital Association; many others are private institutions or run by various Christian associations. The largest general hospital is the Allgemeines Krankenhaus der Stadt Wien, or AKH. No matter what might befall you, there is no medical problem that these institutions won’t be able to handle.
In case of emergency, the ambulance service can be reached by dialing 144 on any phone in Austria, including cell phones. This number is always free of charge. If you are in need of a doctor outside of their regular office hours, dial 141 in order to reach someone on call.
Pharmacies are a very common sight in Vienna. They offer prescription medicine and over-the-counter drugs, most of which are readily available. Others can be ordered and picked up within hours. If you have a prescription, you can obtain your medication for a 5€ charge, no matter the actual cost. Your health insurance will cover the difference. Additionally, every district has at least one pharmacy that remains open throughout the night in the nighttime.
Doctors and other medical staff often speak at least one foreign language, most commonly English. If you would like medical attendance in your native tongue, please consult your embassy, though.
The Vienna Expat Center
Expat living is not always easy, and at times you might feel the wish for competent help when your new life in Vienna brings about unexpected challenges. Catering to the city’s many expatriates and their needs, the city administration has recently set up an expat center, where you will find loads of information and advice on expatriate life in Vienna. From accommodation and registration to schooling and paperwork, the staff is prepared to answer your questions.
You can find the Vienna Expat Center here:
Expat Center Vienna
Schmerlingplatz 3
1010 Wien
Tel: 0043 1 4000 86 949
info@expatcenter.at
Join the leading
Expat Community in Vienna
- Have access to high-quality expat guides and information
- Get to know like-minded expatriates in Vienna
- Meet fellow expats at InterNations events and activities in your area
Membership at InterNations is invitation-only. You need to request an invitation to become a member.
