Historically, hospital discharges in Austria have shown a gradual decline from 2013 to 2019, with a notable dip in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Actual data shows a significant year-on-year drop of 16.6% in 2020. Subsequently, there has been a recovery with a 10.68% increase in 2022 and a 2.61% rise in 2023, reaching 2.1273 million discharges in 2023. The past 5 years have seen an average annual decrease of 0.55% in hospital discharges.
Forecasts indicate a continued gradual decline from 2024 to 2028. By 2028, the expected number of discharges will be around 2.0441 million, reflecting a 5-year cumulative decrease of 3.14%, with an average annual decline of 0.64%.
Future trends to watch for include the impact of healthcare policies aimed at reducing hospital stays through improved outpatient care, advancements in medical technology, and potential fluctuations due to unforeseen public health challenges.
