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HEALTH

Early retiree poses as medical doctor

A pensioner has been working as a doctor in the districts of St. Pölten and Lilienfeld - without having any appropriate medical training.

Published: 23 July 2014 13:27 CEST
Early retiree poses as medical doctor
Doctor's hands. File photo: APA

Police spokesman Johann Baumschlager says that an inquiry into "quackery" is under way.

According to the daily newspaper Kronen Zeitung, the Viennese man had administered blood transfusions, attended acute cases and was even a race doctor at official motorcycle events.

The actions of the 59-year-old remained undetected for years, mainly due to the involvement of his partner, a doctor at the Lower Austrian Provincial Health Directorate.

The woman had applied to perform emergency services on weekends, then when emergencies came up, she sent her partner.

"For us, this is very surprising," Deputy Director of the State Health Department, Robert Kellner, told the Austrian Press Agency.

The 'quack' had carried out his work for years "to the fullest satisfaction," said Kellner. "We never had any problems."

When the case became public, the doctor herself resigned, despite the work she performed with her partner being a secondary activity.

According to the Kronen Zeitung, all patients were satisfied, even after being treated by the fraudulent doctor, who had apparently also covered for his partner while she was on annual leave.

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HEALTH

What do you do in Austria if your nearest pharmacy is closed?

It's nine pm in Austria, and you're out of painkillers or decongestants. You're desperate for pain relief but your local Apotheke is shut, so what do you do?

Published: 12 December 2023 11:59 CET
What do you do in Austria if your nearest pharmacy is closed?

In Austria Apotheken (pharmacies) are the only places in which you can purchase painkillers and decongestants. Ostensibly in the public interest, but it’s also a lucrative moneymaker for the businesses. This monopoly on the sale of certain pharmaceutical drugs is a subject frequently debated and is of much consternation for overseas arrivals. 

READ MORE: Why are painkillers only sold in pharmacies in Austria?

However, many Apotheken can close as early as six pm, especially if you live outside a major city centre. If you’re suffering from a cold or a nasty headache, it can seem like an eternity until they reopen. 

Fortunately, there is relief. Emergency situations will always arise, and pharmacies often band together to provide service at nights, over weekends and on public holidays.

This is done on a rota basis, so your local Apotheke may not be open, there will be a Apotheken-Notdienst (Emergency-service pharmacy) within a 5 – 10km range. 

Often, Apotheken will have a sign or screen out the front that gives the address and opening times for Apotheken-Notdienst in the area, updated frequently.

A number of websites also exist that can give you the location of operating Apotheken-Notdienst across Austria, such as APO24.at. Entering your PLZ (or postcode) will list the nearest to you. 

However, if they don’t have online access, dialling 1455 while put you in touch with a service who can either direct you to the Apotheken-Notdienst on duty, or help you in getting you further assistance. 

If all else fails, your local hospital should have a Notfall-Praxis – ostensibly an emergency doctor service out of hours. If you’re prepared to wait, you will be able to see a doctor, and they can either dispense medication, or direct you to the hospital pharmacy with a prescription. 

Before you go, it’s worth brushing up on your vocabulary. The Local has developed a list of vocabulary and phrases that you can use to describe your symptoms to pharmacists and doctors, to help them prescribe the best possible medication.

READ MORE: Colds and flu: What to say if you get sick in Austria

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