INDICATORS

AUSTRIA
Data availability by Country Report: 77% of ECHI shortlist indicators are available
in international data sources. The ECHI shortlist sections for which there are most data
missing are Health Status and Health Services.
Data availability by ECHIM Survey: 71% of ECHIM Survey indicators are available
at the national level. Most of the data for the indicators derive from HIS, Health
Insurance Database or other registers. Data for most Health Determinants indicators
are produced by HIS. National HES have not been carried out on a national level, but
only regional (CINDI, Vorarlberg). ECHIM Survey reveals there are more data existing
than are available in international data sources. Examples include consumption of fruit/
vegetables and cancer survival rates. The difference is partly explained by the fact that
some data that are not available at the moment are expected in near future, such as
cancer screenings. In addition to that, some indicator data that exist based on ECHIM
Survey results do not necessarily meet the definitions of the international data sources.
Data availability in European context: Data availability in Austria is slightly better
than European average. Most data come from HIS or registers. There are no nationally
representative HES data available, but the situation is quite similar in most European
countries.
Overall situation of data sources: The Austrian Federal Ministry of Health, Family and
Youth (BMGJF, www.bmgfj.gv.at) is responsible for general health monitoring. Statistics
Austria (www.statistik.at) is in charge of the regular collection of administrative data,
process data from health services and morbidity data from HIS. By order of the ministry
Statistics Austria performs HIS. The latest HIS was performed in 2006 (ATHIS 2006),
using a modified EHIS questionnaire. Other organisations gathering health data include
Cancer Register, social insurance carriers and medical associations. Data for reimbursed
medicines in primary care are available from social insurance carriers. At the moment
record linkage is not possible because of strict data protection legislation; presumably
this will not change in the future.
Health reporting: Statistics Austria publishes the extensive yearbook Health Statistics
for Austria (printed and online, in German only). By order of the BMGFJ health reports
are published by the Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG, Geschäftsbereich ÖBIG,
Österreichisches Bundesinstitut für Gesundheitswesen, www.oebig.at) and Statistics
Austria. Topic specific reports are published by Statistics Austria (Results of the ATHIS
2006, Census Results, Cancer Report, Nutrition Report) and ÖBIG (Health Report
2002 and 2004, regional health reports). These are partly available online in German.
Statistics Austria and ÖBIG also host databases containing data for several dozens of
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