Development of Primary Health Care Units in Austria

As of April 2025, there are 95 primary health care units (PHCUs) across Austria, including 13 paediatric PHCUs.

How Did the PHCU Trend Begin?

In 2014, Austria introduced a new organizational model in its primary care system: the primary health care unit (PHCU). These units bring together general practitioners and/or paediatricians, nurses, office assistants, and other healthcare and social professionals to work collaboratively in a team-based approach. Beyond treating acute and chronic illnesses, PHCUs place a strong emphasis on health promotion, disease prevention, and psychosocial well-being.

Austria's first primary health care unit was founded in Vienna in 2015. The enactment of the Primary Health Care Act in 2017 marked the beginning of a steady and positive increase in the number of primary health care units.

Steep Rise Due to Funding ...

The introduction of start-up funding through the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) significantly boosted the number of PHCU establishments. Under this initiative, direct funding supports both the creation of new PHCUs and the strengthening of existing ones, along with supporting further collaborative forms such as group practices in general medicine and paediatrics. The Austrian Primary Health Care Platform was also established through RRF funding: It implements strategies to make primary care more attractive and enables a continuous, structured, and nationwide exchange of experiences across Austria.

... and Through Legislation

Another positive development followed the amendments to the Primary Health Care Act: Since 2023, setting up a PHCU has become easier and faster. The updated legal framework also allows for the creation of team-based PHCUs specifically for children and adolescents, known as paediatric PHCUs.

What Is Planned?

The locations of primary health care units are defined in each state’s Regional Structural Plan for Healthcare. By 2025, a total of 133 PHCUs are planned across the Regional Structural Plans for Healthcare of the nine states.