Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in St. Pölten on Thursday morning to protest aspects of Lower Austria’s “Gesundheitsplan 2040+” ahead of a state parliamentary session.
According to police, approximately 1,000 participants marched from the St. Pölten train station toward the Landhaus around 11:00 a.m., expressing opposition to planned hospital closures and reductions in emergency medical services.
The protest, organized by the overpartisan platform “NÖ #Neuverhandlung Gesundheitsplan2040+”, specifically targeted the planned phase-out of the Gmünd state hospital by 2028 and the reduction of emergency physician stations from 32 to 21 locations across the region.
Demonstrators chanted “Hört zu!” as they arrived at the Landhaus plaza, calling on regional policymakers to reconsider elements of the healthcare reform passed by the legislature the previous year.
Representatives from six protest groups met with health officials including Landesrat Anton Kasser (VPNÖ), Landesrat Martin Antauer (FPÖ), Landesrätin Eva Prischl (SPÖ), and healthcare spokespeople from various parties before the parliamentary session began.
Landesrat Kasser emphasized that explaining policies, listening to concerns, taking fears seriously, and answering questions are central to implementing the Gesundheitsplan 2040+.
The protest occurred amid broader regional debate over healthcare access, with critics arguing the changes disproportionately affect rural communities like Gmünd and could undermine emergency response capabilities.
