Social inequality and health (2002)

In course of the 5. annual meeting of the Austrian network against poverty "Armutskonferenz" held on 20./21. March 2003 in Salzburg, ÖBIG presented its latest report which for the first time in Austria established a connection between the social situation of a person and its state of health (in German)

Generally speaking socially disadvantaged persons in Austria - disregarding homeless people or other - are offered the same treatment and health services like any other person. nonetheless when analysing the acceptance of various health care services or using patterns e.g. of pharmaceu-ticals considerable differences can be observed.

Basing on a comprehehnsive analysis of national and international publications and the interpreta-tion of data provided by the social insurance institution of Upper Austria (OÖGKK) the report "Social inequality and health" established a connection between the living conditions and the income of a person and ists state of health for the first time in Austria.

To reduce such disadvantages induced by poverty and bad living conditions health care services should be attuned to the specific needs of those persons and should omit access barriers like excessive co-payments.

This publication may either be ordered for free at the publishing service of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Health and Women

e-mail: broschuerenservice.bmgf(at)bmgf.gv.at or

alternatively it may be downloaded below (in German)
Download Publication: Soziale Ungleichheit und Gesundheit

Client: Austrian Federal Ministry for Social Security and Generations

Editor: Austrian Federal Ministry for Social Security and Generations

Place of publication: Vienna

Year of publication: 2002

Number of pages: 100 pages incl. appendix, 4 tables, 20 figures

Reimbursement of expenses: Kostenlos