🇦🇹 Austria Healthcare Guide
Vienna's AKH is one of Europe's largest teaching hospitals and the public system across Austria is consistently excellent, with EHIC covering EU and EEA visitors for medically necessary care. The main friction for visitors is that the system runs on referrals — you need to see a GP before accessing any specialist, and walk-in urgent care clinics are uncommon outside Vienna.
Quick facts
- Emergency number: 144
- Healthcare system: universal-public
- Average GP visit: $45 USD
- EHIC/GHIC accepted: Yes
- Language barrier: low
Healthcare overview
Austria’s public hospitals, particularly AKH Wien (Vienna General Hospital) and those in Salzburg and Graz, provide high-quality care and accept the EHIC for EU/EEA citizens. GP visits (Allgemeinmediziner) usually require an appointment, and co-payments of €20–40 per visit are standard even with coverage. Having your EHIC details and health summary saved and accessible before your appointment speeds up registration at any publicly contracted practice.
GP appointment system
Austrian GPs rarely accept walk-ins. Book ahead by phone, or visit an Ambulanz (hospital outpatient department) for same-day non-emergency care.
Co-payments with EHIC
EHIC covers the public system, but co-payments (Selbstbehalt) still apply for GP and specialist visits. Budget €20–40 per consultation.
Vaccinations
Recommended
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
Prescriptions and pharmacies
Austrian pharmacies (Apotheken) are well-regulated and carry most European medications, but many require a prescription that may not transfer automatically from non-EU countries. Codeine is strictly prescription-only. Check whether your medications have Austrian-registered equivalents before you arrive, and carry enough supply for your full stay.
Night and weekend pharmacies
After hours, a rotating Nachtapotheke system operates in every Austrian city. The schedule is posted on each pharmacy’s door.
Tips for travellers
Vienna and Graz have well-established specialist clinics for chronic conditions, and EHIC holders can access public specialists with a GP referral. Wait times for specialist appointments can run 2–4 weeks in the public system, so visitors needing prompt follow-up should consider private Wahlarzt (elective doctor) practices, which typically book within days. Having your treatment plan saved and accessible in German or English means Austrian specialists can pick up your care without requesting records from your home provider.
Private specialist bookings
Wahlarzt (private) specialists in Vienna and Graz see patients without referral and typically within a few days.