Medical Care
Austria has an excellent healthcare system. Medical care is comprehensive — even in alpine regions, there are doctors, hospitals, and rescue helicopters.
For EU/EFTA Citizens
With the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you are entitled to medical care under the same conditions as Austrians. Visits to contract doctors are covered — you pay nothing or only small co-payments. For private doctors, you pay yourself and get a partial refund from your home insurance.
For Swiss
Swiss use the back of the Swiss insurance card (which has the EHIC function). Same rights as EU citizens.
Emergency Call & Rescue
- 144 — Ambulance/Emergency doctor
- 141 — Doctors' on-call service (outside office hours)
- 140 — Mountain rescue (vital in the Alps!)
- 142 — Telephone counseling
Pharmacies
Pharmacies have regular opening hours (Mon–Fri 8–18, Sat 8–12). Outside these hours, there is the night and weekend service: A notice at each pharmacy shows which pharmacy is on duty, or online at apo24.at. Many medications that are over-the-counter in Germany are prescription-only in Austria — check in advance if unsure.
Achtung
Mountain rescue operations can be extremely expensive (helicopter from 3,500 €). Travel insurance with mountain rescue coverage is strongly recommended for hikers and skiers. Alternatively: Membership in the Austrian Alpine Club (ÖAV, from 67 € per year) — includes mountain rescue insurance and hut discounts.
