Health provision needs an update

Around 1.4 million people in Austria take part in the screening programme each year. This makes it one of the most important tools for the early detection of health risks and diseases. However, the screening programme was last fundamentally revised in 2005. Since then, medical knowledge has advanced considerably: new risk factors have been identified, diagnostic methods have improved, and for many tests it is now much clearer which population groups actually benefit from screening.

The Austrian Society for Internal Medicine (ÖGIM), the Austrian Diabetes Society (ÖDG), the Austrian Society of Cardiology (ÖKG) and the Austrian Society of Nephrology (ÖGN) have therefore drawn up a joint scientific proposal for the further development of the Austrian screening programme as part of the Safe Hearts Alliance. The experts from the Medical University of Graz – Kathrin Eller, Alexander Rosenkranz, Daniel Scherr and Harald Souri, who also hold the presidency or chairmanship of the respective societies – presented the findings.

Sixteen conditions and risk factors were assessed on the basis of national and international evidence. Five new areas are to be included, whilst eight existing areas are to be adapted. For three specific issues, the experts expressly advise against general screening of asymptomatic individuals.