Farewell to a social security giant

2023-11-02 17:51:30

Franz Bittner was a defining personality of the main association

Vienna (OTS) – The umbrella organization of social insurance providers is deeply affected by the early death of Franz Bittner. From 2002 to 2009 he was chairman of the general meeting and later of the sponsors’ conference of the main association of social insurance providers and one of the most influential leaders of Austrian social insurance.

Franz Bittner was one of the most prominent social security representatives nationwide for more than a decade. As a top representative in the healthcare sector, he always walked on a “smooth playing field” in search of room for maneuver between political pressure and the special interests of powerful lobbies. Bittner’s path was always one of social partnership, seeking changes in dialogue with those affected and interest groups and relying on negotiations. Bittner was always able to compromise and was willing to consider the interests of others and take them seriously.

As a top representative in the main association, he has succeeded in organizing social partnership. Under his chairmanship of the sponsoring conference, the introduction of the e-card was implemented, the balanced scorecard control was introduced, the consolidation of the data centers was initiated and IT-SV GmbH was founded.

We owe his willingness to shape health policy in the main association, among other things, the new preventive examination including a targeted invitation system, the establishment of the breast cancer screening program, and the diabetes disease management program. A particular concern of his was the introduction of psychotherapy on a health certificate, where he showed the way as chairman of the health insurance fund in Vienna.

With Franz Bittner we are losing a great social security figure and an influential figure in the local healthcare system. Our thoughts are with his wife and children.