1. Is the paediatric practice public or private?
In Austria, primary care paediatric practice is both private and public.
The costs for treatment are for both institutions covered by the insurance that everybody is obliged to have. Usually, private paediatricians have only office hours between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Therefore, many emergency cases are taken to paediatric hospitals.
2. Is it mandatory?
Paediatric practice is not mandatory. Families may attend a general practitioner as well and frequently (approximately 50%) do so. It is mostly in rural areas (where no paediatrician is available).
3. Lists of paediatric centres / associations