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Children's health in Vienna

Austrian medicine resembles French medicine: direct-access community paediatricians, an insurance card, very good public hospitals. The differences hide in the details: contracted doctors or doctors of choice, a health record that starts before birth, vaccines recommended but never imposed. Here is how it works, with verified addresses and the official list of French-speaking practitioners.

Verified on 30 October 2026

How the Austrian system works

Compulsory public insurance, funded by contributions, covering the whole family through employment, and free choice of doctor. The only real question to ask before an appointment: 'Kassenarzt oder Wahlarzt?'

Good to know

  • The e-card is the Austrian social insurance card: it proves your cover and is shown at every consultation; without it, the practice can check your insurance number or ask for a deposit returned at the next visit. Its reverse serves as the European Health Insurance Card. Source
  • A Kassenarzt (contracted doctor) is paid directly by the insurer: no upfront payment. A Wahlarzt sets their own fees, you pay, then the insurer refunds part of it on presentation of the invoice. A Privatarzt gives no right to any refund. Source
  • The paediatrician (Kinderärztin, Kinderarzt) follows children from birth to 18 and remains the first point of contact when they are ill, without going through a GP; contracted practices are often full, some keep waiting lists: look for yours early, ideally during pregnancy. Source
  • 1450 is the health advice line, free, open every day around the clock: qualified nurses assess the symptoms and tell you where to go, practice, on-duty pharmacy or emergency department; if it is life-threatening, the call is passed to 144. Source
  • The Eltern-Kind-Pass (formerly Mutter-Kind-Pass) is the pregnancy and early childhood prevention programme: five obstetric check-ups during pregnancy, then child reviews up to the 62nd month, covered with contracted practitioners. Source

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Finding a paediatrician and baby check-ups

No family doctor to declare: you freely choose your paediatrician, preferably a contracted one. First health step on arrival, before anyone is ill, because the good practices do not always take new patients.

Good to know

  • Look for a 'Kassenordination' or 'alle Kassen' practice near home using the doctors' directory (Arztsuche) and call to ask whether it takes new patients; children's primary care centres (Kinder-PVE) group several paediatricians and have longer hours. Source
  • Bring to the first appointment: the child's e-card, the Eltern-Kind-Pass if born in Austria, the vaccination record (Impfpass) and the French carnet de santé, from which the paediatrician will copy vaccines and growth curves. Source
  • The local record is the Eltern-Kind-Pass: it follows the child to age five with regular reviews, at the paediatrician, a GP or a parent-and-child advice centre, and now exists in an electronic version. Source
  • Since 2019, contracted paediatric practices in Vienna have been open every weekend and public holiday: the day's list is published by the Medical Chamber, call before you go. Source
  • Vaccines are recorded in the paper Impfpass and, increasingly, in the electronic record (e-Impfpass) available online. Source

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Emergencies and children's hospitals

Three numbers to remember: 144 for the ambulance, 141 for an out-of-hours doctor at night and weekends, 1450 to be pointed in the right direction. Vienna has six children's emergency departments, including two hospitals entirely dedicated to children in the 9th.

Good to know

  • 144 (Rettung) is for life-threatening emergencies: acute breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness, burns, serious injury, poisoning; the European 112 works too. The poison centre answers on 01 406 43 43. Source
  • 141 (Ärztefunkdienst) sends an on-call doctor to your home Monday to Friday from 19:00 to 7:00, from Friday 19:00 to Monday 7:00 and all day on public holidays, when a child gets worse or does not improve. Source
  • The Vienna Medical Chamber recommends children's emergencies (Kinderambulanz) for prolonged watery diarrhoea, repeated vomiting or high fever with breathing difficulty; for the rest, on-duty practice or 1450 first. Source
  • The KinderNotDienst (KiND) runs a weekend service at the AKH children's clinic; for toothache on a Saturday or Sunday, the Vienna Dental Chamber publishes the on-duty practices. Source

Addresses

  • St. Anna Kinderspital

    Emergency

    Kinderspitalgasse 6, 1090 Wien

    Vienna's historic children's hospital, a stone's throw from the Lycée français: children's emergencies open every day from 0:00 to 24:00, infants, children and teenagers.

    Website Source

  • Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, AKH Wien

    Emergency

    Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Wien (niveau 5, Kliniken am Südgarten)

    The university children's clinic of Austria's largest hospital: 24-hour emergencies and every paediatric speciality on site, plus the weekend KiND service.

    Website Source

  • Klinik Favoriten, urgences enfants et adolescents

    Emergency

    Kundratstraße 3, 1100 Wien (Mutter-Kind und OP Zentrum)

    Children's emergencies open from 0:00 to 24:00, from premature babies to age 18, with neonatology and neonatal intensive care, serving the south of the city.

    Website Source

  • Klinik Floridsdorf, urgences enfants et adolescents

    Emergency

    Brünner Straße 68, 1210 Wien (niveau 4 D)

    Vienna's newest hospital, north of the Danube: children's emergencies open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from birth to 18, next to the adult emergency department.

    Website Source

  • Klinik Donaustadt, Kinderambulanz 24h

    Emergency

    Langobardenstraße 122, 1220 Wien

    Paediatric department with neonatology and paediatric surgery, 24-hour children's emergencies according to the Medical Chamber: the address for families in Donaustadt and the Seestadt.

    Website Source

  • Klinik Ottakring, urgences de la Kinderabteilung

    Emergency

    Montleartstraße 37, 1160 Wien

    The former Wilhelminenspital, for the west of the city: paediatric department with children's emergencies; call 1450 or the hospital to check hours before setting off.

    Website Source

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French-speaking doctors, dentists and therapists

The French embassy in Austria publishes a list of French-speaking doctors, updated in March 2026. It is provided for information only, without engaging the administration's responsibility for either the quality of care or the fees, and the choice remains free. We list the Vienna practitioners most useful to families; 'toutes les caisses' indicates a contracted doctor, 'cabinet privé' a Wahlarzt or Privatarzt.

Good to know

  • The official list covers GPs, paediatricians, dentists and orthodontists, gynaecologists, psychiatrists, psychologists and psychotherapists, speech therapists, a midwife, osteopaths and many specialists, in Vienna and the Länder; it is the only public source checked by the French administration. Source
  • Many of these practitioners work with all insurers: the consultation is then covered with no upfront payment, as with any Kassenarzt. With those in private practice, you pay and the insurer refunds only part, or nothing for a Privatarzt: ask before the appointment. Source
  • The embassy also has two medical advisers in Vienna, Dr Sebastian Baumgartner (Berggasse 33, 9th) and Dr Gabriele Binder (Tuchlauben 7, 1st), both by appointment; the lepetitjournal.com Vienne directory complements the list with professionals who register themselves. Source

Addresses

  • Dr Gabriele Binder

    General practitioner

    Tuchlauben 7, 1010 (Innere Stadt)

    General practitioner, all insurers; medical adviser to the French embassy, weekly slots Monday to Friday by appointment.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE

    Source

  • Dr Renate Hoffmann-Dorninger

    General practitioner

    Gymnasiumstraße 20, 1180 (Währing)

    General practitioner, all insurers, in the residential district of Währing, near the Lycée.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE

    Source

  • Dr Sebastian Baumgartner

    General practitioner

    Berggasse 33, 1090 (Alsergrund)

    Internal medicine specialist, private practice, medical adviser to the French embassy (Friday afternoons by appointment); website in French.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE, EN

    Website Source

  • Dr Sylvia Stein-Krumholz

    Paediatrician

    Wollzeile 12, 1010 (Innere Stadt)

    Contracted paediatrician (all insurers) right in the centre, behind St Stephen's cathedral.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE, EN

    Website Source

  • Dr Andreas Lischka

    Paediatrician

    Krottenbachstraße 27, 1190 (Döbling)

    Professor of paediatrics, contracted practice (all insurers) in Döbling, near the Lycée français nursery.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE

    Source

  • Dr Franz Stefan Pelzl

    Paediatrician

    Sechskrügelgasse 1, 1030 (Landstraße)

    Contracted paediatrician (all insurers) in the 3rd, between the Stadtpark and the Belvedere.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE

    Source

  • Dr Peter Dremsek

    Paediatrician

    Weißgasse 45, 1070 (Neubau)

    Paediatrician in the 7th, contracted with several insurers (BVAEB, SVS, KFA); ÖGK members pay and are partly refunded.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE

    Source

  • Dr Erich Kolbeck

    Dentist

    Hörlgasse 6, 1090 (Alsergrund)

    French-speaking dentist a stone's throw from the Lycée français and the Votivkirche.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE

    Website Source

  • Dr Maria Nicoletta Gerstner-Mensdorff

    Dentist

    Landstraßer Hauptstraße 13, 1030 (Landstraße)

    Dentist contracted with most insurers, in the 3rd near Wien Mitte.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE

    Website Source

  • Drs Axel et Ancra Schwehr

    Dentist

    Taborstraße 76, 1020 (Leopoldstadt)

    Family dental practice contracted with most insurers, in the 2nd near the Augarten.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE

    Source

  • Dr Birgit Vetter-Scheidl

    Dentist

    Liechtensteinstraße 62, 1090 (Alsergrund)

    Orthodontist, private practice, opposite the Lycée français: handy for brace appointments between lessons.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE

    Source

  • Virginie Roy

    Psychologist

    Bandgasse 34, 1070 (Neubau)

    French psychologist, private practice in the 7th.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE

    Source

  • Céline Aldegué

    Psychologist

    Franz-Hochedlinger-Gasse 1, 1020 (Leopoldstadt)

    Psychologist, private practice in the 2nd; shares premises with psychotherapist Céline Dörflinger, also on the embassy's list.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE

    Website Source

  • Katia Boulard

    Psychologist

    Franzensgasse 4, 1050 (Margareten)

    French-speaking psychotherapist in the 5th, near the Naschmarkt.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE

    Website Source

  • Teresa Catteeuw

    Psychologist

    Renngasse 14, 1010 (Innere Stadt)

    Psychotherapist, private practice in the 1st, website in French.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE, EN

    Website Source

  • Noémie Fargues

    Liechtensteinstraße 107, 1090 (Alsergrund)

    French speech therapist, all insurers, on the Lycée's street: assessments and language therapy in French, invaluable for bilingual children.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE

    Source

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Pregnancy and maternity units

In Austria, pregnancy is followed by a community gynaecologist, within the Eltern-Kind-Pass, and you register yourself with the public maternity unit of your choice, as early as possible. Midwives take over after the birth, at home.

Good to know

  • The Eltern-Kind-Pass provides for five obstetric check-ups during pregnancy, including a consultation with a midwife; they are covered with a contracted gynaecologist and are a condition for certain family benefits. Source
  • The City of Vienna centralises birth registration for its eight public maternity units on geburtsinfo.wien, online or by phone on 1450, with a comparison of services (rooms, number of births, teams); register as early as possible. Source
  • Austrian maternity leave (Mutterschutz) prohibits work for eight weeks before and eight weeks after the birth, twelve weeks after a caesarean, premature or multiple birth; the allowance (Wochengeld) is paid by the insurer throughout. Source
  • Parental leave (Karenz) can last until the child is 22 months old for a single parent, and up to 24 months when parents alternate; each period lasts at least two months and must be notified to the employer within strict deadlines. Source

Addresses

  • AKH Wien, Universitätsklinik für Frauenheilkunde

    Maternity

    Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Wien

    The university maternity unit, in the 9th: Austria's largest perinatal centre, the reference for high-risk pregnancies and very premature babies in the east of the country.

    Website Source

  • St. Josef Krankenhaus Wien

    Maternity

    Auhofstraße 189, 1130 Wien

    Public hospital in Hietzing, Austria's largest maternity unit with over 4,000 births a year, neonatology from week 28 and a parent-and-child centre; very popular, register early.

    Website Source

  • Klinik Favoriten, Geburtshilfe

    Maternity

    Kundratstraße 3, 1100 Wien (Mutter-Kind und OP Zentrum)

    Around 2,000 births a year, five delivery rooms including a birthing pool, family rooms, midwives and neonatologists on site around the clock; registration via geburtsinfo.wien or 1450.

    Website Source

  • Klinik Floridsdorf, Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe

    Maternity

    Brünner Straße 68, 1210 Wien

    The public maternity unit north of the Danube, in the city's most modern hospital, with neonatology next door.

    Website Source

  • Privatklinik Goldenes Kreuz

    Maternity

    Lazarettgasse 16-18, 1090 Wien

    Vienna's historic private maternity unit, in the 9th: birth with the gynaecologist and midwife of your choice, home follow-up after the birth; costs at your expense or through private insurance.

    Website Source

  • Dr Clémence Aurélie Yekpe

    Kolschitzkygasse 15, 1040 (Wieden)

    French-speaking gynaecologist on the embassy's list, contracted with several insurers (BVAEB, SVS, KFA), in the 4th.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE

    Source

  • Magalie Ouriachi-Gsell, sage-femme

    Obere Donaustraße 59, 1020 (Leopoldstadt)

    French midwife on the embassy's list, in private practice: preparation, Eltern-Kind-Pass consultation and home follow-up in French.

    Languages spoken : FR, DE

    Source

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Pharmacies and medicines

Red-cross Apotheken are plentiful and pharmacists happily advise; at night and on Sundays, a rotating duty service takes over, with a small surcharge. Doliprane does not exist, but paracetamol does.

Good to know

  • On-duty pharmacies (Nachtdienst) dispense urgent medicines outside opening hours, on Sundays and public holidays; a night-duty surcharge is added to each dispensing. The pharmacy directory shows those open near you. Source
  • The embassy points to apo24.at to find the nearest on-duty pharmacy; 1450 will also tell you which pharmacy is open at that hour. Source
  • Equivalents: ask for paracetamol (Mexalen, as suppositories or syrup for little ones) instead of Doliprane, ibuprofen (Nureflex for children) instead of Advil, 'Kochsalzlösung' for saline solution and 'Fieberthermometer' for a thermometer; many of these are sold without prescription, but only in pharmacies.
  • A prescription written by a French doctor is in principle valid across the European Union: the Austrian pharmacist can dispense it if the prescriber and medicine are clearly identified, but may refuse in case of doubt, and medicines dispensed in Austria are not reimbursed by the French insurer without a claim. Source

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Vaccines: how the schedule differs from France

The Austrian programme broadly resembles the French one, with three differences that surprise: nothing is compulsory, some vaccines free in France are paid for here, and a vaccine unknown at home, against tick-borne encephalitis, is recommended for the whole family.

Good to know

  • There is no compulsory vaccination in Austria, neither for Kindergarten nor for school: parents decide; in France, eleven vaccinations are compulsory for young children, and the French record counts for doses already given. Source
  • The free programme (kostenloses Kinderimpfprogramm) covers rotavirus, the 6-in-1 (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, hepatitis B) and its 4-in-1 booster, MMR, pneumococcal, flu and RSV; the exact dates follow the Austrian vaccination schedule, which the paediatrician applies. Source
  • Still paid, outside the programme: meningococcal vaccines, chickenpox and tick-borne encephalitis (FSME). Meningococcal B, free and compulsory for babies in France, is therefore at your expense here: have it done before leaving if the schedule allows. Source
  • The tick-borne encephalitis (FSME) vaccine is recommended for everyone living in Austria, no Land being spared, from the age of one: three doses, then a booster at three years and every five years thereafter. The embassy strongly recommends it, especially for children. Source
  • Where to vaccinate: at the paediatrician, a GP, the Land of Vienna's vaccination centres or the insurer's health centres; the free programme is organised Land by Land, the paediatrician knows the procedure in Vienna. Source

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These landmarks do not replace the advice of a health professional. In an emergency, call the local emergency number shown above.

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Vienna will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Ambassade de France en Autriche, liste de notoriété des médecins francophones
  2. 2 Ambassade de France en Autriche, la vie quotidienne (urgences, santé)
  3. 3 gesundheit.gv.at, chez le pédiatre
  4. 4 gesundheit.gv.at, Kassenarzt et Wahlarzt
  5. 5 gesundheit.gv.at, vaccinations des enfants
  6. 6 Ordre des médecins de Vienne, mon enfant est malade
  7. 7 Gesundheitsberatung 1450
  8. 8 Stadt Wien, geburtsinfo.wien

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