Switzerland has long been a country to which people from all over the world travel for treatment. As early as the Middle Ages, its medical institutions enjoyed great popularity. A healthy climate, clean air and healing mountain springs laid the foundation for the development of its health resorts. Today, Switzerland is a leader in healthcare and one of the world’s leading producers of medicines.
The Swiss healthcare system at a glance
The Swiss healthcare system is an efficient model whose costs are among the highest in the world. It is a vast, extensive network of modern public, private and subsidised private clinics staffed by the most highly qualified doctors from across Europe. The country holds a leading position in neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, cancer treatment, orthopaedics and plastic and reconstructive surgery. All Swiss medical institutions are equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology. The entire system is financed primarily through health insurance, which is compulsory for all residents.
Switzerland is divided into 20 cantons and 6 half-cantons. The healthcare system, however, is uniform throughout the country: every resident is required to hold a basic insurance policy. Total healthcare expenditure in Switzerland amounts to 11.5% of GDP. On average, citizens spend around 10% of their salary on healthcare. In 2017, the average monthly insurance premium for each adult citizen was CHF 447.
Hospitals and emergency hospitals are funded by the cantons. Cantonal hospitals host medical faculties that train specialists in various fields. Private hospitals, outpatient facilities, nursing homes, institutions for people with disabilities and for patients with chronic illnesses can also receive state subsidies. In this way, the government guarantees high-quality medical care for residents. In addition, the country has a large number of private clinics with a wide range of specialisations – from wellness services to emergency care.
More than 60 insurance companies operate in Switzerland, each of which provides basic medical services to everyone, regardless of their state of health. There are many types of health insurance in the country: for employed and unemployed citizens, people with disabilities and older people, as well as pregnancy and maternity insurance, occupational accident insurance and more.
The basic insurance policy covers:
– outpatient treatment
– emergency care
– medical care at home
– medicines from the approved list prescribed by a doctor
– support during pregnancy, gynaecological examinations, antenatal classes and assistance during childbirth
– vaccinations
– post-traumatic and post-operative rehabilitation
Switzerland recognised long ago that the rehabilitation period is an essential part of treatment. It has therefore created a unique nursing profession with a very high level of medical training: nurses independently prescribe and discontinue medicines, operate high-tech equipment and can even provide psychological support when needed.
Clinics here resemble five-star hotels, with luxurious rooms and first-class cuisine. Modern diagnostics, full screening on admission and continuous monitoring of the patient’s health are the three pillars on which the entire Swiss healthcare system rests. And impeccable standards of comfort during rehabilitation support a swift recovery.
Treatment in Switzerland is a step that is difficult to take alone. Finding a clinic, translating documents for a consultation, concluding a contract, visa support, transfers and other matters can become a real puzzle. It is possible to do this yourself, but it is better to entrust the work to professionals.
