Time window: Under 72 hours. Ideally under 24. Every hour matters. Cost: Free via public hospital system (ÖGK covers emergency care).

For the full clinical picture — what PEP is, how it works, and who it's appropriate for — see PEP: The Emergency Protocol first.

Where to Go

Vienna

AKH Wien — Allgemeines Krankenhaus Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna The primary destination in Vienna. Go to the Notfallaufnahme (emergency reception) and tell them you need post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV.

During business hours, you can go directly to the Klinische Abteilung für Infektionen und Tropenmedizin (Infectious Disease outpatient), which is better staffed for this specific need. Outside hours — evenings, nights, weekends — the Notfallaufnahme is the route, and they will contact the infectious disease on-call.

Klinik Favoriten (formerly Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Spital) Kundratstraße 3, 1100 Vienna The second major option in Vienna, particularly if you are in the southern districts. Infectious Disease department (Infektionsabteilung).

Outside Vienna

Go to the Landeskrankenhaus (state hospital) or Universitätsklinikum in the nearest state capital. All have infectious disease departments or can access PEP through their emergency departments.

  • Graz: LKH Universitätsklinikum Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 1, 8036 Graz
  • Linz: Kepler Universitätsklinikum, Wagner-Jauregg-Weg 15, 4020 Linz
  • Salzburg: Salzburger Landeskliniken (SALK) / Universitätsklinikum Salzburg, Müllner Hauptstraße 48, 5020 Salzburg
  • Innsbruck: Tirol Kliniken / Universitätsklinik Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck
  • Klagenfurt: Klinikum Klagenfurt, Feschnigstraße 11, 9020 Klagenfurt
  • Bregenz: LKH Bregenz, Carinagasse 47, 6900 Bregenz

What to Say

At triage, be direct and specific:

"Ich hatte vor [X] Stunden einen HIV-Risikokontakt und brauche Post-Expositions-Prophylaxe (PEP)." (I had a high-risk HIV exposure [X] hours ago and need post-exposure prophylaxis.)

Provide clinical context: was your partner HIV-positive or unknown status? What type of exposure? Receptive anal sex without a condom is the highest-risk route — being specific speeds assessment.

Cost

PEP is covered by ÖGK (public health insurance) as an emergency treatment. You show your e-card; the cost of the medication and hospital consultation is covered. If you don't have an ÖGK e-card (tourist, EU visitor with EHIC, uninsured):

  • EU/EEA visitors with EHIC: Emergency care is covered. Present your EHIC card at the hospital.
  • Non-EU visitors: Emergency care is provided. A bill may follow — manage it afterward. The virus does not wait.
  • Uninsured residents: Emergency care is provided at the hospital regardless. Costs can be negotiated.

The Process

Starter pack: The hospital gives you a 5–7 day starter pack of PEP medication to begin immediately.

Follow-up: Before the starter pack runs out, you must attend the Infektionsambulanz (infectious disease outpatient) — at AKH in Vienna, or at your nearest Universitätsklinikum — to continue the full 28-day course, review side effects, and arrange follow-up HIV testing at 6 weeks and 3 months.

Do not stop PEP early. The full 28-day course is required for efficacy.

After PEP: Consider PrEP

If this is not the first time you have needed PEP, or you regularly have condomless sex with partners of unknown or positive status, PrEP is the clinically appropriate tool. See PrEP in Austria: The €60 Rule.

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