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HEALTH

Switzerland: Should coronavirus sceptics forfeit their bed in the case of ICU bottlenecks?

A prominent Swiss Health Economist has suggested coronavirus skeptics forfeit their places in intensive care units in the event of bottlenecks.

Switzerland: Should coronavirus sceptics forfeit their bed in the case of ICU bottlenecks?
A coronavirus sceptic at a protest in Zurich. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Intensive care places are running out all across Switzerland, with the situation in some cantons becoming particularly dire. 

READ: Switzerland's intensive care units ‘close to capacity or above' 

Willy Oggier, a leading Health Economist who advises a number of Swiss hospitals on the coronavirus pandemic, has recommended a radical idea in the event of bottlenecks in intensive care units. 

Oggier told Swiss broadsheet Tages Anzeiger that whether or not someone is a coronavirus skeptic should be considered in making triage decisions. 

“I suggest that corona skeptics forfeit their right to an acute bed or an intensive care place if there are bottlenecks,” said Oggier. 

“Anyone who is reported because they wilfully disregard the rules of distance and hygiene should be responsible for their actions. I suggest that these people be recorded by name and, in case of doubt, not be given an intensive care bed. 

“This is consistent with the polluter pays principle.”

Oggier defended his suggestion, saying it did not amount to a restriction on free speech. 

“No, it's not about putting controls on social behaviour.

“I’m just talking about the bottleneck situations. If the hospitals reach their limits, the medical professionals cannot avoid deciding who to give the last bed to. 

“I think it's fairer when the self-proclaimed Corona rebel is left behind than when it simply hits the oldest patient in the room.”

 

 

Member comments

  1. If “forfeiting” the spot is accompanied by the ending of all restrictions on those who take it up and the return of already paid health insurance premiums for the last few years, sure, why not? That’s a pretty safe bet for a most of us. COVID poses virtually no risk of an ICU visit for anyone of working age.

    What’s that I hear? This guy isn’t making any such offer? We’d still have to put up with the useless restrictions and still be forced to pay for healthcare we’d be denied? Well then, why should anyone care what Willy Ogier thinks? Someone needs to remind him that when people pay for health insurance, the other side of the deal is they get treated if they need it. If hospitals need to add more capacity then it’s their job to do that. It’s not the job of everyone else to suffer so they can sit on their backsides and give prim lectures to the population. I think hospital and health insurance workers do actually realise that, so no surprise this idiotic and illegal suggestion comes from an academic far removed from the front line – the same class of people who have been consistently wrong about everything related to COVID throughout 2020.

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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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