Top manager: “Health system should be managed like a corporation”

DELIVERY MAN: What does the worst period of heat and drought to date mean for our society?

Günter Geyer: The heat wave did not happen overnight, but is a development over the last few years. Thank God there are fewer and fewer doubters that humans can have a very strong influence on this, both positively and negatively. The population needs to be better prepared for this issue.

How? Can you please name specific areas?

In several ways. For example in housing and health, cooling measures are urgently needed here. The industry for possible avoidance of climate-damaging measures, such as cement production. Agriculture has been very badly affected this year and so has our food. It is therefore important to consider whether agriculture, supported by the state, should gradually switch to other products. I think it’s very good what the hail insurance company is doing under its boss Kurt Weinberger. Help is offered here and is supported by the state.

As an insurer, do you want compulsory insurance?

No, I am not in favor of compulsory insurance. The motivation for insurance needs to be understood and supported.

Those who do not have insurance should receive less state aid? Otherwise, the person who makes private provisions is the stupid one. Just like in the case of natural disasters, where the disaster aid is reduced by the insurance benefit.

You should clearly feel the difference whether I am insured or not. Those who take precautions themselves should not be disadvantaged. Anyone who is not insured should be helped so that they do not lose their livelihood.

Insurance companies are directly affected economically by the consequences of climate change through natural disasters. Would a model for home ownership, similar to hail insurance, make sense? The common fund, which has always been discussed with politicians, will come to nothing anyway.

It would certainly make sense to offer people support during natural disasters. Similar to hail insurance, where the state covers part of the premium. As motivation and for prevention. A fund should only help people in extreme cases who cannot make provisions themselves.

What do you say about the drama surrounding the climate protection law? Do you have the impression that politicians are at all prepared to act?

I’m glad it at least got this far. Whether the necessary decisions will be made is a second question. It’s understandable that the details still need to be clarified, but I really hope so. I would say, let’s start, then we’ll see how we progress, whether in 2040 or 2050. But this is not just an Austrian issue, but an EU issue.

How satisfied are you with the government’s economic policy?

I have two basic wishes. One is to strengthen motivation and support so that Austrian companies stay in the country. The second point is the social issue. I’m particularly referring to pensions. I expect the government to take responsibility here and make arrangements for the future.

What specifically do you suggest?

Who else do you notice positively in the government?

Chancellor Stocker, he carries out his role very calmly and objectively. And Ministers Hanke and Hattmannsdorfer are well on their way to economic concerns.

VIG has completed the acquisition of Nürnberger Versicherung in Germany, its largest deal to date. What do you need the Nurembergs for?

The question is not what we need. Nürnberger is a company that has a very good reputation and is excellent in some areas. She has good equity, the strategy fits us completely and therefore supports us. It is about the same size as Wiener Städtische, and there is also a small bank, the Fugger Privatbank.

Will you keep the Nürnberger brand?

Yes, we always keep the name and management in our international acquisitions. The local people know best what is needed, not us in Vienna