The controversial and much-debated move to impose a 50-franc fee on those who seek emergency care at a hospital without a doctor’s referral has been turned down.
Under the proposal, the 50 franc fee would have been part of the health insurance co-pay, which meant the person would have had to pay it out of their own pocket.
Supporters of the proposal argued that too many people show up at emergency rooms with mild symptoms that don’t require urgent care but should be treated by family doctors.
They also say such visits not only unnecessarily use hospitals’ resources, but also contribute to the already very high healthcare costs.
They argued the €50 fee would help change people's behaviour and dissuade many from going to hospital emergency wards when there was no need.
At the conclusion of the consultation process on Friday, the Federation of Swiss Doctors, the Swiss Society for Emergency and Rescue Medicine, the Conference of Cantonal Health Directors, the umbrella organization of health insurers Santésuisse, as well as most political parties have rejected the proposal.
Alternatives in Switzerland to going to hospital ER
Emergency rooms are for just that: true medical emergencies, which, if not treated quickly and immediately, can be life-threatening.
This includes (but is not limited to) heart attacks and strokes, head trauma, severe respiratory distress, heavy bleeding, serious injuries, and other conditions where any delay in treatment can put your life or health at risk.
If you don’t feel well (even in the absence of the above-mentioned symptoms), you may overestimate your ailment and think it requires an urgent visit to the ER.
But before you go there, get your condition evaluated by other medical professionals. Your first point of contact should be your primary physician (GP), who can decide whether you need to go to the hospital or can be treated another way.
In the event you don’t have a GP (or are a tourist), there are other options available in Switzerland, such as medical centres and walk-in clinics in virtually all cities.
If you are not sure how serious your condition is, you can call a “duty doctor” service (Notarzt in German, médecin de garde in French).
Their numbers vary by cantons; it is 0800 33 66 55 in Zurich, 022 748 49 50in Geneva, 061 261 15 15 in Basel, and 0848 133 133 in Vaud.
People who answer the phone will ask questions about your symptoms and can decide whether you need to go to the ER, require a visit from the duty doctor, or can just wait and see how your condition evolves.
A duty doctor is also an alternative to the emergency room if you start feeling ill at night, on weekend or public holiday, as this service responds 24/7.
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