Children’s healthcare in Austria

Children’s healthcare in Austria is universal and easily accessible, especially once you know how the system works. From regular check-ups and vaccines to dental care and mental health services, the system is set up to help kids thrive. And best of all, most of it won’t cost you a cent.

So, whether you’re new to the country or just new to parenting here, here’s what you need to know:

Children’s healthcare in Austria

Austria’s healthcare system has broad and universal coverage, including when it comes to children. From the early stages of your pregnancy, you’re invited to regular check-ups through the Parent-Child Passport program (Eltern-Kind-Pass). This national preventive program offers free health checks to expectant mothers and children up to 5 years old.

Most medical treatments start with your local family doctor or GP (Hausarzt), who can refer you to a pediatrician or specialist if needed.

Each region in Austria also has its own child and family support services that offer guidance on parenting and raising children. When required, they can refer families to support services for social, psychological, or educational needs. Each area varies slightly in terms of how the youth healthcare teams operate, though they are all subject to the same federal guidelines.

Is healthcare free for children in Austria?

Yes, healthcare for children in Austria is free, as long as their parents or guardians are members of an Austrian health insurance fund. Families don’t pay any additional monthly premiums or deductibles for their kids. Once the child turns 18, they must start paying the associated fees.

Insurers providing global healthcare coverage in Austria include:

• Allianz Care 
• Cigna Global

For more information, check out our article on Austrian health insurance.

How to access children’s healthcare in Austria

After signing up for health insurance, parents or guardians can register their child with their local GP practice (Hausarztpraxis). You are free to choose any doctor you want, and you can switch physicians freely. That said, Austria has one of the lowest numbers of family doctors in Europe, and you may have to call around for a while to find one that takes on new patients.

Family doctors handle basic pediatric complaints, conduct routine tests, and coordinate follow-up treatments. If need be, they can refer you to a pediatrician or specialist.

For medical issues outside regular opening hours, you can also contact the on-call services (Ärztenotdienst) on 141. These doctors on duty work from 19:00 to 07:00, Monday to Friday, and all hours on weekends.

How to get treatment as a non-resident in Austria

Our article on Austrian health insurance covers the topic in more detail, but as a quick summary:

• While it’s not mandatory to have health insurance coverage when you visit Austria, it’s highly recommended that you do. Medical treatment can be quite expensive, and without insurance, you’d face large out-of-pocket costs.
• Temporary visitors from the EU and EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland), including children, can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access healthcare in Austria
• UK nationals can access healthcare through their Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)

For non-life-threatening injuries (like a bump to the head, but your child is conscious and alert), you can call a local GP or an out-of-hours doctors’ service. Even if you aren’t a resident, many regions allow short-term visitors to contact them for medical advice or an appointment.

In life-threatening emergencies (e.g., your child bumped their head and is unconscious or vomiting), call 144 for an ambulance. The EMTs can assess the situation and take you to the nearest hospital emergency room. Alternatively, you can reach out to Vienna’s Health Advice Line at 1450 for advice on where to go.

Non-resident patients must pay any costs upfront and claim reimbursement afterward through their EHIC/GHIC or travel insurance. Ambulance rides may or may not be covered by your insurance, so it’s wise to check this beforehand. Without coverage, the cost can range between €300 and €500, depending on the distance and type of care provided.

Overview of children’s doctors in Austria

Austrian pediatricians and specialists

In Austria, family doctors treat common healthcare complaints, including those of children. If you or your GP notices anything irregular, they may refer you to a pediatrician (Kinderarzt) or specialist. These doctors usually work in hospitals or other health centers, depending on their specialty.

Patients in Austria don’t need a referral to see a specialist. However, parents are still advised to consult their family doctor first, so their child’s medical situation can be identified more easily. 

Children’s hospitals in Austria

Most hospitals in Austria – just over 260 in 2023 – have dedicated pediatric facilities. The country also has several specialist children’s hospitals (Kinderkrankenhaus), including:

• Kinderklinik Linz in Linz
• St. Anna Kinderspital in Vienna

The searchable database of The Austrian Society for Paediatrics (Österreichische Gesellschaft für Kinder‑ und Jugendheilkunde) lists all pediatric clinics and pediatricians across the nine federal states.

Pediatric hospitals are specially equipped to treat young patients. They have pediatric specialists, child-friendly facilities, and staff trained to care for everything from minor injuries to complex conditions in babies, kids, and teens.

Regardless of the treatment, the care at a children’s hospital is free. If your child is staying overnight and you want to stay nearby, you may be eligible for a discounted rate at a Ronald McDonald House.

What treatments are available to children in Austria?

Children in Austria have access to a wide range of healthcare treatments, including:

Preventative health programs for children

Like we said earlier, children up to the age of 5 are invited for regular check-ups by the youth healthcare services in Austria. These doctors and nurses monitor your child’s growth and development and provide any possible vaccinations. Although the preventative health services are not mandatory, they’re highly recommended. They’re also a requirement for parents wanting to receive the childcare allowance (Kinderbetreuungsgeld).

The free Eltern-Kind-Pass examinations are conducted by contracted doctors. During the first year, you’ll typically see them five or six times. Between the ages of 1 and 4, you’ll see them another four or five times, depending on your doctor.

During these appointments, you’ll likely receive the following:

• Support with breastfeeding, weaning, sleeping, and the like
• Routine health checks, including the Apgar test for newborns, sight and hearing tests, and growth monitoring
• Parenting advice, including on speech, mental, and physical development of your child
• Childhood vaccinations

After your child starts school, the Eltern-Kind-Pass examinations will stop, and any care is transferred to their GP.

Vaccinations for children in Austria

Children receive free vaccinations against 12 infectious diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and rotavirus. Although these vaccines aren’t mandatory, they help protect your child and others against preventable diseases.

Around 86.4% of Austrian children are vaccinated (2023), with the lowest vaccination rates in rural areas like Innviertel (Upper Austria) and Oberkärnten (Carinthia).

Once your child is registered for healthcare in Austria, you will automatically receive an invitation to participate in the vaccination program. If your child began their immunizations outside of the country, ask your family GP for advice on how to bring their record in line with the Austrian vaccination program.

For more information on vaccines and the national vaccination schedule, visit our guide to vaccinations in Austria.

Children’s dental care in Austria

Children up to the age of 18 receive free basic dental care, including biannual check-ups, selected fillings, x-rays, and tooth extractions. Public health insurance also covers braces in the case of serious misalignment. Other orthodontic procedures are not included.

Like with GPs, parents are free to choose any dental practice they want. However, most people choose to stick with one close-by home for practicality and familiarity. For dental emergencies outside of regular hours, you can also contact +43 1 512 20 78 for information on emergency dentists in Vienna. This service operates from 09:00 to 18:00 on weekends and public holidays.

Mental healthcare for children and teens

Children and teens struggling with their mental health can access treatment through regional child and adolescent psychiatric services (Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie). These teams include child psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health professionals trained to support young people with emotional, behavioral, or developmental challenges. They often work closely with schools, social services, and youth welfare offices (Kinder- und Jugendhilfe) when broader support is needed.

If you’re worried about your child’s mental health, the best starting point is your family doctor. They can assess the situation and refer you to a suitable specialist or clinic. In many cases, you can also contact a child psychologist or therapist directly, though having a referral often ensures better reimbursement from your health fund.

Young people who need someone to talk to confidentially can also contact the free mental health support line Rat auf Draht at 147.

In recent years, the demand for child and adolescent psychiatric care has surged. This has led to significant waiting times in the public system; currently (2024), it takes approximately 90 days to get an appointment. If you need quicker access, private health insurance can offer a valuable solution.

Useful resources

• The Austrian Society for Paediatrics – website that lists all pediatric clinics and pediatricians in Austria
• Gesundheit.gv.at – official government e-portal with information for parents and patients in Austria