This is what Kristian Schneider, head of the Biel hospital center, says in an interview with the “SonntagsZeitung”. His colleague from Graubünden, Hugo Keune, head of the Cantonal Hospital of Graubünden, agrees – and draws a comparison with two of the most disturbing company bankruptcies in recent Swiss economic history: “I think of Credit Suisse and Swissair. No one thought they could go under.” The situation is similar in cantonal hospitals in Switzerland: “Everyone thinks nothing can happen.” But since the hospitals cannot count on state security and many are legally independent, according to Keune it is clear:
Then there would basically be only two options: close the hospital or be rescued by the state.
Hospital bosses say it is clear that poor management is not behind the crisis. The fact that the vast majority of hospitals in Switzerland are in financial trouble shows that “the whole system is in trouble.”
The problems are diverse. On the one hand, most rates for outpatient treatments have not been adjusted – increased – since 2012. At the same time, inflation and the cost of electricity and other resources are constantly increasing. Wages have also risen in healthcare and are now high for many jobs. But according to hospital executives, the biggest factor that caused costs to explode is something else: the increased demand and behavior of patients.
The occupancy rate in hospitals is enormous. Hospital bosses reject accusations that doctors deliberately overprescribe or overprescribe to make money. Adrian Schmitter, head of the Baden Cantonal Hospital, says:
Nowadays, patients do not have to take responsibility for the demands placed on the system – at the same time, the demands of the Swiss are enormous.
According to hospital managers, the Swiss system guarantees top-class service. There are no long waiting times for operations compared to abroad. Even smaller procedures that are not immediately urgent from a medical perspective are carried out in Switzerland within a very short time. Kristian Schneider therefore says: “If we want to afford this system in Switzerland, we must also be prepared to pay the costs.”
The solution to the problem from the provider’s perspective is clear to the managers:
In response to the objection that this would increase health insurance premiums even further and that these are already the biggest concern of the Swiss, Kristian Schneider explains that there is no way around it. One must even acknowledge:
Hugo Keune from the Graubünden cantonal hospital adds: “If we want to keep today’s offer as it is (…), premiums will inevitably have to rise.” The same money from the premiums should be paid today.
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source: watson
I’m Maxine Reitz, a journalist and news writer at 24 Instant News. I specialize in health-related topics and have written hundreds of articles on the subject. My work has been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Healthline. As an experienced professional in the industry, I have consistently demonstrated an ability to develop compelling stories that engage readers.
