Medicine in Switzerland
There are many good reasons for seeking treatment in Switzerland rather than in your home country. We will give you some of them and go into some important aspects in more detail below.
Why seek medical treatment in Switzerland at all?
Switzerland is known for many things. For impressive scenery, sovereignty and discretion, for neutrality and hospitality.
In recent decades, Switzerland has also earned an outstanding reputation worldwide in the field of medicine. This is due to many factors such as the training of medical staff, the quality of diagnostics and therapy, the state-of-the-art equipment in clinics and centers and the special features of the Swiss healthcare system. Quality management and patient protection have the highest priority here.
Find out everything you need to know about what makes Switzerland special as a treatment location and what services we can provide for you.
Medicine in Switzerland - Quality of diagnostics and treatment
Hospitals in Germany and Switzerland are generally at the cutting edge of technology. State-of-the-art equipment for diagnostics, therapy and rehabilitation, including the use of AI and telemedicine, are standard in university hospitals in particular.
AI is often used to support complex diagnoses. Telemedicine enables interdisciplinary exchange with colleagues across borders (interdisciplinary, international treatment teams).
In addition, clinics in Switzerland and Germany have to meet extremely strict quality criteria due to legal regulations and standards.
Below we present further reasons for seeking medical treatment in Switzerland.
Discretion
This is probably one of the most important aspects of all. Are you planning a cosmetic procedure? Not everyone around you needs to know. The treatment of serious injuries or illnesses is also a very intimate matter.
We know that many people prefer to handle such serious incisions in their lives very discreetly and only share them with their closest family and friends. Treatment abroad - especially in Switzerland, which is world-famous for its discretion in handling sensitive data - will give you the level of discretion you desire.
- You are simply out of the country for a while, e.g. on vacation or on a business trip.
- You can concentrate fully on your treatment and recovery without having to worry that those around you will find out about it.
- You can move freely and at ease in an environment where nobody knows you. Even if your appearance is temporarily restricted as a result of your treatment.
- You will return home fresh and beautiful or hopefully in a better state of health. People will simply say "But your trip was obviously good for you".
Uniqueness / individuality
The range of medical centers and clinics, as well as specialists you can trust, is very limited abroad. This naturally leads to the majority of people with similar aesthetic wishes or necessary treatments going to the same clinics and doctors. In particular, we looked after patients who told us that they didn't want to have "the same nose as their friends" because "they all went to the same doctor".
This cannot happen to you with treatment abroad - especially in Switzerland. Here you will receive personalized care and treatment. Your wishes and ideas are taken into account and you are given detailed, comprehensive and competent advice on the best treatment method and the best result for you.
Your treatment and the result will be absolutely unique and individual.
Training of medical staff
The medical quality of clinics and doctors in Switzerland is world-renowned. There are several reasons for this.
Quality of training
A large number of doctors in Switzerland have also completed their training in Switzerland. Nevertheless, the proportion of foreign doctors in Switzerland is comparatively high. However, the majority of these doctors come from Germany. This is because Switzerland is particularly attractive for German medical staff due to the earning opportunities and working conditions. It is not for nothing that Switzerland is the number one country of emigration for German nationals.
Both Switzerland and Germany have very high standards for the training of doctors. For admission to a university to study medicine alone, students must have the highest school-leaving certificate with top grades. In addition, prospective students must undergo a subsequent aptitude test. The standards are extremely high and the level of training is at the highest international level.
Quality of diagnostics and treatment
Hospitals in Germany and Switzerland are generally at the cutting edge of technology. State-of-the-art equipment for diagnostics, therapy and rehabilitation, including the use of AI and telemedicine, are standard in university hospitals in particular.
AI is often used to support complex diagnoses. Telemedicine enables interdisciplinary exchange with colleagues across borders (interdisciplinary, international treatment teams).
In addition, clinics in Switzerland and Germany have to meet extremely strict quality criteria due to legal regulations and standards.
Minimum quantity agreement
In both countries (Germany and Switzerland) there are so-called "minimum volume agreements" for clinics and in some cases even for doctors. This means that clinics are only authorized to carry out diagnoses and treatments if they achieve a minimum volume defined by the cantons for these diagnoses or treatments within a defined period (usually 1 - 2 years). This ensures that clinics only carry out treatments for which the wealth of experience is guaranteed by the regularity with which these treatments are carried out.
In some Swiss cantons (e.g. Zurich), minimum quantities for surgeons have even been introduced in addition to the minimum quantities per clinic. You can therefore be sure that the specialist treating you has extensive experience in his or her field.
For comparison: Situation in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan
In comparison to Switzerland and Germany, there is no established, publicly accessible system of minimum volume agreements for hospitals in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. The healthcare systems in these countries are structured differently and quality assurance is carried out using other mechanisms.
Russia
In the Russian healthcare system, which is centrally managed, the focus of quality control tends to be on state certification, inspections and compliance with medical protocols established for specific treatments. There are no nationwide, publicly visible minimum case numbers, as used in Western Europe as a tool to improve the quality of treatment.
Ukraine
The Ukrainian healthcare system has been undergoing change for years. Priority is currently being given to reforming financing and strengthening primary healthcare. While efforts are being made to improve medical standards, the implementation of nationwide minimum volume regulations is not yet known. The focus on treatment quality tends to be on licensing medical facilities and monitoring the qualifications of specialists.
Kazakhstan
In Kazakhstan, too, there is no nationwide regulation on minimum case numbers for clinics. Quality assurance in the healthcare sector there is primarily carried out via a system of state licenses and accreditations. There are efforts to raise standards, but the Western approach of minimum volumes is not an integral part of current healthcare policy.
In summary, it can be said that the concept of minimum volumes, as used in Switzerland and Germany to increase the quality and safety of treatment, is not established to the same extent in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
The Swiss healthcare system
The Swiss healthcare system is praised internationally for its high quality. This is manifested, among other things, in:
High life expectancy:
Life expectancy in Switzerland is one of the highest in the world.
Patient satisfaction:
Surveys show that a large proportion of the Swiss population is satisfied with their own state of health and the healthcare system.
Quality management and patient safety:
There are various measures and institutions dedicated to quality assurance and patient safety. These include the work of the Association National Quality Committee (ANQ), which carries out uniform quality measurements throughout Switzerland in various areas of healthcare, and the Swiss Patient Safety Foundation, which implements national programs to improve patient safety.
Further information on the Swiss healthcare system
A number of other factors mean that the Swiss healthcare system is considered to be particularly qualified and safe for patients. This is not least due to the rules for the training of doctors and a strict quality assurance system that has been established in Switzerland.
Rules for the quality, training and qualification of doctors
Education:
The training of doctors in Switzerland is demanding and generally takes at least five years after medical school. Medical studies are divided into a Bachelor's and a Master's program, whereby the Master's program is strongly practice-oriented and includes clinical assignments.
Further education and training:
The Swiss Institute for Continuing Medical Education (SIWF), an autonomous institute of the Swiss Medical Association (FMH), is responsible for the regulation and implementation of continuing medical education. It awards specialist qualifications on behalf of the federal government.
Qualification and admission:
A federal medical diploma or a foreign diploma recognized by the MEBEKO (Medical Professions Commission) is required to practice the profession in Switzerland. Foreign diplomas, especially from EU/EFTA countries, are often automatically recognized, provided they meet the minimum standards.
Patient safety
Systematic quality management:
Many clinics and practices implement comprehensive quality management systems based on international standards (e.g. ISO 9001).
Reporting and learning culture:
Reporting systems such as CIRS (Critical Incident Reporting System) enable staff to report incidents anonymously in order to learn from them and improve processes.
Measurement and transparency:
Organizations such as ANQ coordinate the measurement of quality indicators and publish the results. This enables hospitals to further develop their quality in a targeted manner and promotes competition in terms of quality.
Continuous improvement:
The Swiss Patient Safety Foundation develops and implements national programs to improve patient safety in various medical areas.
What we do for you
01.
Accompaniment in your native language
We look after you in your native language. You don't have to worry about communication problems. We also speak Russian as native speakers.
We also speak Ukrainian, German and English fluently. We translate medical consultations for you simultaneously, take care of the formalities and are available for you as a contact person in your language.
02.
Referral to specialists & clinics
In consultation with you, we will find the best clinics and specialists for your treatment.
In doing so, we draw on an extensive network that we have built up over many years.
03.
Very quick appointment allocation on site
We arrange prompt appointments for you. You often have to wait weeks or even months for an appointment with good, renowned doctors or clinics.
We make sure it happens faster. Sometimes even within a few days.
Care with heart and medical understanding
That is the most important thing for us: we look after you with a lot of heart, understanding and empathy. You can feel safe and understood with us.
We take care of you - no matter what is on your mind, so that you can concentrate fully on your treatment and recovery.
We accompany you during medical consultations, diagnoses and treatments. We translate for you, answer questions and take care of all your concerns.
The focus is on you as a person with your fears, worries, expectations and questions.
Get in touch with us - we look forward to hearing from you!
Do you have any questions? Would you like to arrange a personal meeting with us? Then send us a message. We will get in touch with you as soon as possible.