Hergovich takes over as Samariterbund Burgenland president

Robert Hergovich has been elected president of Samariterbund Burgenland, an organisation that provides emergency rescue, patient transport and care services, ORF reported. He succeeds 87-year-old Johann Grillenberger, who was elected honorary president.

The 50-year-old, a former president of the Burgenland state parliament and current SPÖ parliamentary group leader, was elected at the organisation’s annual conference in Neufeld. The Samariterbund employs 700 people in Burgenland, more than 400 of them in full-time roles, and operates 10 care centres across the state.

Hergovich said his priorities would be improving working conditions for staff, using digital tools and artificial intelligence to make services more effective and faster for patients, and informing people about the organisation’s services.

Franz Schnabl, president of Samariterbund Austria, said the Burgenland branch was well positioned and led the organisation’s state branches in the care sector. Burgenland Governor and SPÖ state party leader Hans Peter Doskozil congratulated Hergovich and thanked Grillenberger for his long service.