“I do not see the problem!”

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“Priority service” in the hospital: For a payment of 300 francs, patients of the Orthopedic Clinic Lucerne (OKL) must get an appointment for a consultation within two weeks. If you put another 500 francs on it, the operation must take place two weeks later.

For a total of 800 francs, the medical problem was solved within just four weeks, the “observer” writes. If the patient does not pay anything, she has to wait much longer for a consultation appointment.

“Preferred treatments and appointments are available at an additional cost,” says the clinic’s “Priority Service” flyer. She is based in the Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna in Lucerne. “No more waiting” – the slogan stands for preferred consultation hours, expedited surgery appointments and “better planning”.

BAG: Action is not allowed

Only: according to the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG), preferential treatment is not allowed at all, the “observer” continues. Fee supplements can only be charged if medically justified additional services are actually provided.

In addition, early treatments should be medically justified. “The Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG) requires equal medical treatment. All insured persons are entitled to timely treatment », the magazine quotes the media office of the Bundesamt.

The Hirslanden Group sees things differently – and defends the “priority model” in the “Observer”. Additional services outside the KVG are likely to be billed with additional costs. The additional services consist of additional work for the organization: finding appointments quickly, finding gaps in occupancy plans or planning possible shift extensions for the staff. In addition, each patient can freely decide whether he wants to use such additional services.

“Neither emergency room nor public hospital”

Philippe Nantermod (38), Vice-President of the FDP, does not find this objectionable either. Wallis’ lawyer said: “I don’t see the problem! We are talking about a private clinic and orthopedic surgery. This is not an emergency room or a public hospital.”

He would even welcome a similar offer in public hospitals. “If a public hospital wanted to balance its finances with such services instead of taking more money from the taxpayer, I wouldn’t complain.”

Nantermod does not believe this will promote dual medicine. We don’t have a health system in Switzerland that doesn’t treat people who can’t afford it, said the FDP’s vice president.

Offer is already fixed

On the contrary: more and more services are covered by basic insurance. Increasingly expensive and more powerful treatments would thus be paid for by everyone.

In addition, each individual can decide for himself which additional resources he or she wants to use for his or her own health by means of a supplementary insurance policy.

In the meantime, however, the hospital has put the service on hold due to the report in the “Observer”, the Medinside portal writes. Due to the many “misunderstandings”, she had no other choice, writes the Orthopedic Clinic Lucerne in a statement. The board will now decide how to proceed.

Source:Blick