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HEALTH

Seven days: How to leave quarantine early in Switzerland

Since Monday, people in Switzerland can reduce their quarantine from 10 to seven days if they have a negative test results. Here's how.

Seven days: How to leave quarantine early in Switzerland
Photo: KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP

Following a decision by the Federal Council, as of Monday, February 8th, people placed in quarantine after returning from a trip, or after having been in contact with a confirmed Covid case, can submit a negative test result to the cantons from the seventh day and ask to be released from the quarantine.

This represents a slight shortening from the previous situation, where quarantines needed to go for at least ten days regardless of the results of a test. 

Coronavirus quarantine: Here is the form you need to enter Switzerland 

“These rules apply to all people who are permitted to enter Switzerland. That means they also apply if you are Swiss and returning to Switzerland after being abroad”, the Federal Office of Public Health said on its website.

How do I leave quarantine after seven days in Switzerland? 

As with anything in Switzerland, the exact way of doing so depends largely on the canton – meaning that in effect there are 26 different ways in which one can leave quarantine. 

However, in each canton, the quarantined person must pay for the test themselves.

EXPLAINED: What are Switzerland’s new travel and quarantine rules? 

Each request made must be verified and confirmed by the cantonal authority.

How do I leave quarantine in my canton?

Here’s an overview from some of Switzerland’s largest cantons. 

For any canton that is not included here, please click the following link to be connected with the authorities in your canton. 

Zurich

People looking to leave quarantine early in Switzerland’s largest canton will need to receive a negative result in either a PCR or an Antigen test before getting in touch with Zurich authorities here

Basel City

In addition to having evidence of a negative test, people looking to leave quarantine in Basel City need to have no symptoms of the virus. 

They must then report the ending of the quarantine to the following email address: [email protected]. Once this email has been sent, you are free to leave quarantine – you do not need to wait for a reply. More information is available here

You are encouraged to keep evidence of the negative test with you in case you are requested to show it by the health department. 

Neuchâtel

To end a quarantine early, you must register online and submit a negative PCR test. More information is available here

Valais

A written certificate confirming the negative test is required and must be emailed to the address [email protected]. More information is available here

Fribourg

The proof of the negative test should be sent to [email protected]. More information is available at the following link.

Vaud

In Vaud, the situation is a little easier. People in quarantine will be automatically contacted on the seventh day by the contact-tracing service.

They will assess the situation to see whether the he quarantine should be shortened. Click here for more information

Geneva

Genevan authorities will contact quarantined individuals by SMS and encourage them to take the test from the seventh day.

The cantonal doctor’s service will then decide whether the quarantine can be lifted. Click here for more information

Bern

People wanting to end quarantine early in Bern can send an email to Bernese authorities at [email protected]. According to reader feedback, responses are clear and immediate. 

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HEALTH

Which medications in Switzerland are set to become more expensive?

The cost of medications in Switzerland is already quite a bit higher than elsewhere in Europe. And now certain drugs will become even pricier.

Which medications in Switzerland are set to become more expensive?

Swiss consumers pay significantly more for their medicines than those in neighbouring European countries. 

This is what emerges from various data published over the years.

“In Switzerland, we pay far too much for medicines compared to abroad,” Matthias Müller, a spokesperson for SantéSuisse, an umbrella group for Swiss health insurance providers, told Swiss media in 2023. 

Even the price of many generic medicines is twice as high in Switzerland as in nine EU countries.

For instance, generics are on average 48 percent cheaper in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Austria and Sweden than in Switzerland, according to a price comparison.

And prices for a number of commonly-used drugs will rise even further in the near future.

Why is that?

The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) is adapting a new model for calculating the distribution margin. 

A distribution margin is the difference between the distributor’s cost of acquiring goods and the price at which those goods are sold.

From July 1st, 2024, inexpensive medicines whose factory price is less than, or equal to, 15 francs will become more expensive.

This change will affect more than half of medications currently being sold in Switzerland.

As a result of this move, “additional costs of several hundred million will be passed on to patients,” according to Intergenrika, which represents generic drug manufacturers in Switzerland. 

In a nutshell, consumers will pay slightly lower prices for medicines that were previously more expensive, but will also end up paying more  for those that are currently cheaper – like generics.

Which meds will become more expensive?

Pain medications are among those set to become pricier.

One of them is ibuprofen, a popular anti-inflammatory.

While a box of 20 400-mg tablets today costs 5.92 francs, its price will practically double to 11 francs from July 1st.

Though its manufacturing cost will remain the same as today – 1.58 francs – the distribution margin will increase from 4.19 to 9.09 francs.

The same goes for another often-used pain medication, Ponstan.

Ten 500-mg tablets will cost 11.21 francs instead of 6.19 currently.

The manufacturer will continue to charge 1.82 francs for the drug, but the distribution margin will increase from 4.22 to 9.11 francs.

And even generic drugs, which are cheaper – and often by much – will get pricier, at consumers’ expense.

Will some drugs be cheaper?

Yes, some will become slightly less expensive.

One example is the anticoagulant Rivaroxaban whose price will drop from 281 to 267 francs.

READ ALSO: Why you will pay more for certain drugs in Switzerland 2024?

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