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Rescue in Vienna: Nine recommendations successfully implemented - there is still a lot to do!
The Court of Auditors praises the implementation of 14 recommendations in Vienna's emergency services, which will be optimized by 2025.
Rescue in Vienna: Nine recommendations successfully implemented - there is still a lot to do!
On July 18, 2025, the Court of Auditors published a report on the implementation of recommendations in the Vienna rescue service. The evaluation shows positive progress: Of a total of 14 recommendations made, nine were fully implemented and five were partially implemented, which noticeably improved the efficiency of the emergency services in the city, reported MyDistrict.
The report includes a review of the Vienna emergency service from 2019 to 2024 and highlights the positive developments in the management of operations. An important element was the agreement between the Vienna professional rescue service and private rescue services for integration into the existing operations control system. This collaboration guarantees that private providers also adhere to quality standards in order to ensure uniform processes during rescue operations and emergency calls rechnungshof.gv.at reported.
Rescue operations: objectives and challenges
A central goal of the Vienna professional rescue service is to be at the scene within 14 minutes of receiving an emergency call in 90 percent of cases. However, for certain areas, such as the Vienna Woods or the Danube Island, longer periods of up to 30 minutes apply. To achieve these goals, the selection of suitable vehicles was optimized, which led to an increase in the number of emergency ambulances, while the use of normal ambulances partially decreased.
However, the need for a central, integrated control center for Vienna remains an unsolved problem. Although planning began in 2017, the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays, slowing progress, as the report clearly shows. An adapted concept for an integrated control center system has been developed, but its implementation is still pending.
Need for reforms in the emergency services
However, the development of emergency services in Vienna is not without challenges. The Vienna Chamber of Labor has pointed out that there is an urgent need for reform. Silvia Rosoli, head of the health professions law department, is calling for an improvement in training in the emergency services. In this regard, Clemens Kaltenberger, Vice President of the Federal Association of Emergency Services, also emphasizes the need to amend the paramedic law in order to optimize the training of paramedics arbeiterkammer.at is explained.
The number of paramedics in Austria is currently estimated at around 48,000, although the training standards are below European levels. Length of stay in the workplace is declining, which is causing concern in the industry. In addition, the increase in rescue operations of almost 21% between 2017 and 2023 is a serious problem that puts the target timelines at risk. Experts warn that by 2030, the 15-minute deadline will only be met in 70 percent of cases.
Improving prehospital care requires a new three-tier modular training system to respond to these challenges. In the future, the first degree programs could start as early as 2027, but this also depends on stable financial support.