Katharina Reich

Dr Katharina Reich is Director General of Section VII Public Health and Health Care System and Chief Medical Officer of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection. She trained as a general practitioner at the Medical University of Vienna and has additional training and experience in patient safety, clinical risk management, hospital hygiene and emergency medicine. Many years of experience as Medical Director of the Barmherzigen Brüder Hospital in Vienna and as Deputy Medical Director of the Hietzing Clinic have provided her with in-depth management knowledge. Her work has focused on physician training and process optimisation using lean management methods to improve patient safety. She is also active as a trainer and lecturer in the areas of crew resource management and human factors. On a voluntary basis, she is involved in the care of marginalised and uninsured people. Dr Katharina Reich is president of the Federal Office for Safety in Health Care (BASG) and a member of the Austrian Federal Health Commission. During the pandemic, she additionally chaired the Corona Commission of the Ministry and was the Federal Vaccination Coordinator.