Salzburg tests pharmacy telemedicine over doctors’ objections

Salzburg is testing video consultations with doctors in 12 pharmacies, a pilot project that the Austrian public broadcaster ORF reports has drawn criticism from the province’s medical association.

Under the project, called doc@apo, patients can speak to a doctor by video in a private room at a pharmacy. General practitioners from Lower Austria will be available on two days a week, particularly on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings, to assess patients and prescribe medication. The service is free and does not require an appointment.

The Salzburg Chamber of Pharmacists says the consultations could save patients time and help ease pressure on hospital outpatient departments, which typically see more patients at weekends. It describes the service as a supplement available during off-peak hours.

Christoph Fürthauer, a spokesperson for Salzburg’s practising doctors, questioned the need for a second service. He said the province has had a comprehensive, mandatory GP on-call service since the 1990s and has enough capacity to treat patients during peak periods in the cold season. He argued against maintaining or funding a parallel structure.

The province is providing €90,000 for the pilot. It will be scientifically monitored in the pharmacies through January and assessed afterwards.