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HEALTH

Government seeks to slash health bill with lower doctor fees

The Swiss government hopes to cut medical costs by half a billion francs next year in a move that could result in lower health premiums.

Government seeks to slash health bill with lower doctor fees
File photo: odua/Depositphotos

Health Minister Alain Berset announced moves to reduce pay-outs to specialists for operations that do not require a hospital stay.

By reducing medical tariffs, the minister hopes to slash health costs by 470 million francs  – or 1.5 percent of health insurance premiums, according to media reports.

It comes as the government seeks to rein in spiralling health costs.

Earlier this month it was announced that health insurance premiums could rise by up to five percent next year.

READ ALSO: Swiss health insurance premiums set to rise again next year

Berset had wanted to save 700 million francs, but his earlier plans for a revision of the medical tariff rules came in for criticism from doctors and hospitals.

Under the new rules that come into effect from January there will less paid out for procedures that now take less time than previously thanks to technical innovations.

These include cataract operations, colonoscopies and radiotherapy.

Doctors carrying out these procedures will receive around ten percent less in fees than previously.

The government hopes this will result in fewer unnecessary operations and patients will not suffer as a result.

“There will be no reduction in services to insurance policy holders,” Berset said.

It was anticipated that the move could result in lowered health insurance premiums from 2018 as insurers take the changes into account.

However, on Friday, the umbrella organization of health insurers, Santésuisse, cast doubt on this, saying the savings had to be seen first, the Blick newspaper reported.

For members

HEALTH

The essential Swiss websites you need to use for health matters

If you just moved to Switzerland (or even if you have lived here for a while), your learning curve about health-related matters in the country may be steep. These sites will help you find the information you need.

The essential Swiss websites you need to use for health matters

Staying healthy is probably one of your top priorities, but doing so in a foreign country is not easy.

That is why having some reliable resources that you can check out and follow will be helpful.

First: The Local

No, we are not doctors, but we have published a number of factual articles over the years about many aspects of healthcare in Switzerland that our readers find helpful.

You can find a compilation of these health-related stories here

Federal Office of Public Health 

Obviously, when it comes to matters of health, the Health Ministry has lots of information that will be relevant to you at one time or another.

Aside from matters of health policy (which is important for all residents of Switzerland), the site also has a regularly updated Infectious Diseases Dashboard to let you know what communicable illnesses are currently circulating in Switzerland — and how to avoid them.

It also provides age-specific health information and recommendations — for instance, for children and teenagers, as well as for the elderly.

Hospital websites

Individual hospitals in your area are good sources of information as well, and many of them are in English.

You can find there general health information, care and treatment options, online emergency room signup, new medical technologies being used, and other patient resources:

Geneva University Hospitals (HUG)

Vaud University Hospital (CHUV)

Zurich University Hospital

Basel University Hospital 

If you live in an area without a university medical centre, your local hospital is also a valuable source of health-related information.

Appointment booking platform

This website is especially useful for people who don’t yet have a doctor in Switzerland but need to set an appointment with one. 

It gives you an option of choosing a specialty and location, and then displays doctor’s names and addresses, background information about them, and which time slots they have available.

You can easily set up an appointment this way.

Your health insurer’s website

This may not be an intuitive choice for impartial information about healthcare but you may be surprised.

For instance, Sanitas insurance site has information about emergency care decisions, and how to void unnecessary medical treatments.

CSS has health information geared specifically to men and women.

Helsana talks about ways to combat stress and sleep problems.

These are just a few examples on what valuable tips you can find on your insurer’s website.

Websites devoted to specific medical conditions

If you seek information about a specific illness — such as treatment options in Switzerland — there are plenty of online resources for that as well.

For instance:

Heart and cardiovascular 

Diabetes 

Osteoporosis 

Mental illness 

General pain 

Other diseases 

Last but not least, while not related to health, these websites will also provide useful information for international residents:

The Swiss websites that can help you save money
 
The most useful website resources to help you get Swiss citizenship 
 
 

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