That has to change!

The Swiss healthcare system is not doing well. A lack of staff, a lack of efficiency combined with economic pressure and too many unnecessary treatments are causing him problems. Recipes abound. Blick says what needs to be done now.

The population approved the care initiative a year ago. Something really needs to be done about the staff shortage. The cantons have an obligation, because the federal parliament has already taken the first step and put together a training package worth 500 million francs to support training hospitals and homes, technical colleges and nursing staff in their training.

But the money will only flow if the cantons yield the same amount. And here it is still missing. According to the professional association of nursing staff, Bern, Tessin and Wallis were the first to create the conditions for carrying out the training offensive. Since such training takes time, immediate measures are probably needed to keep nurses in the profession – higher allowances for night and Sunday work are conceivable.

Some hospitals are overcrowded, others are waiting for patients. Where cities can hardly save themselves from doctors, many a Valais or Graubünden side valley is desperately looking for a doctor. And while people here wait weeks for an operation appointment, unnecessary procedures are still being performed there. This shows: Switzerland lacks control in the healthcare sector. This is partly due to the federalist structures. But we can no longer afford such a cantonal spirit. To keep healthcare accessible, of high quality and affordable for everyone, agreements and joint planning are necessary. Not only regional, but also interdisciplinary, keyword managed care Integral care by general practitioners or group practices – supported by smart digital tools – that is the future.

Doctors, insurance companies and the federal government have argued for years over the rate doctors use to bill medical services. The current one, Tarmed, is outdated: some services are overpaid due to technological developments, while others actually do not exist at all. Health Minister Alain Berset (50) is asked here: he has to approve the tariff, but does not because it is too expensive for him. But Berset can, as Basel health director Lukas Engelberger (47) demands, impose conditions until the points of contention are clarified.

Outpatient treatment is cheaper than inpatient treatment – and technological advances are making this increasingly possible. That is why politicians want more outpatient treatment. Only: because outpatient care is paid for 100 percent by the health insurers, this would lead to premium increases.

The idea, which has also been around for years, is that health insurers and the cantons should share the costs, as is the case with inpatient treatments. That would dampen premium growth because a larger part would be financed through taxes. This too is the money of the citizens, but taxes are usually more social than the per capita premiums of the health insurance companies, which are the same for everyone.

It’s up to parliament here: the National Council and the Council of States cannot agree on the details. In addition, the left fears that the austerity effect will be overestimated. On the other hand: it is really incomprehensible why an inguinal hernia operation costs 3,000 CHF outpatient and more than 4,000 francs inpatient.