Austria's Heath Ministry says the country's health minister, Sabine Oberhauser, has died at age 53.

The ministry said Oberhauser died Thursday. She had been battling cancer for two years and relinquished her government duties a week ago to enter the hospital.

Oberhauser, a physician, took office in 2014 after holding various posts for the Social Democrats, the senior partners in Austria's coalition government.

She is survived by her husband, fellow doctor Gerold Oberhauser, and their two daughters.

Austrian Chancellor Gerhard Kern spoke of "indescribable sadness" at news of Oberhauser's death.

On Feb. 15, Oberhauser, who was also a trained paediatrician, said her Social Democrat Party colleague Minister of Social Affairs Alois Stoeger would stand in for her while she recovered from peritonitis.

"Whoever was lucky enough to get to know Sabine Oberhauser, knew a woman who stood by her values and convictions," Chancellor of Austria Chirstian Kern said in the statement.