# #AustriaHealth in the news

October 19, 2026 at 12:20 PM

> Vienna Launches Joint Surgery Booking Platform · Childhood Obesity Diagnoses Surge 83% in Austria · Austria to Introduce Annual E-Card Fee for Pensioners

[Vienna Launches Joint Surgery Booking Platform](<https://austriareport.com/article/vienna-launches-joint-surgery-booking-platform-deed9ff6>)
*October 19, 2026 at 12:20 PM* - The new op-termin.wien platform has scheduled over 245 hip and knee surgeries since May, reducing wait times for patients in Vienna.

[Childhood Obesity Diagnoses Surge 83% in Austria](<https://austriareport.com/article/childhood-obesity-diagnoses-surge-83-in-austria-76d969df>)
*October 19, 2026 at 10:40 AM* - The Austrian Health Insurance Fund reports a sharp rise in youth obesity cases, with Styria recording the highest number of diagnoses.

[Austria to Introduce Annual E-Card Fee for Pensioners](<https://austriareport.com/article/austria-to-introduce-annual-e-card-fee-for-pensioners-917809b5>)
*October 15, 2026 at 08:59 AM* - Starting November 2026, Austrian pensioners will face an annual E-Card service fee of 26.85 euros, deducted directly from pension payments.

[ÖGK Issues 87,000 Invoices for Patient Transport](<https://austriareport.com/article/ogk-issues-87-000-invoices-for-patient-transport-363967ca>)
*October 12, 2026 at 04:07 PM* - The Austrian Health Insurance Fund begins billing for non-acute patient transports conducted during the second quarter of 2026.