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Living in Switzerland - The Health System

Contents:
Introduction

Moving to Switzerland
Registration Procedures
Moving Goods
Moving Financial Assets
Cars, Driving & Licences
Finding Accommodation
Finding a School
Moving Checklist

Living in Switzerland
The System
Incomes & Taxes
Cost of Living
Accommodation
Cultural & Social Life
Educational System
Private Life
Transport
The Health System

Social Security
Social Security in Europe
E forms: General Overview
General Organisation
Sickness Insurance
Family Insurance
Old Age Pensions
EU Health Card
Unemployment Benefits

Working in Switzerland
Finding a Job
Applications
Recognition of Qualifications
Kinds of Employment
Employment Contracts
Remuneration
Working Time
Vocational Training
Leave
End of Employment
Special Categories
Self-employment
Representation of Workers
Work Disputes
The health system 
Outpatient medical care is provided mainly by doctors in private practice and the outpatient units of public hospitals or private clinics. Patients are in principle free to select the doctor of their choice and have unlimited direct access to specialists. The cantons and municipalities provide a school medical service, which carries out regular screening at state schools, checks pupils’ immune status, performs vaccinations, etc.

Dental care is provided mainly by dentists in private practice and by public dental clinics. Compulsory basic insurance (see below) covers the cost of certain treatments only (mainly surgery). School medical services monitor all pupils’ dental health at various times during compulsory schooling and suggest any necessary treatment, the cost as a rule being chargeable to the patient.

The importance of home medical care (Spitex) has increased considerably in the last few years. Basic insurance offers only partial cover for care at home and household assistance. The provision of these services is the responsibility of the municipalities, which often delegate this function to private bodies.

About a third of the drugs authorised for sale are included in the list of special medicines and can be obtained only on prescription; their cost is refunded by the compulsory basic insurance scheme less a 10% excess. Medicines not included in the list are chargeable to the patient or their cost may be covered by supplementary insurance; they can be obtained from any pharmacy in the country.

The Swiss healthcare system is very expensive. Even though the quality of care is superior to that of other countries, healthcare costs in Switzerland are the highest of any country in the world except for the United States (see the OECD survey).

Text last edited on: 04/2008

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2008
Reproduction is authorised.

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