Taking a broken leg to the hospital could take longer in future

Zurich, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – One hundred of the 320 hospitals in Switzerland should be closed, says Thomas Zeltner, head of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. He made the remarks on the evening TSR Swiss television programme Infrarouge Tuesday 6 October. Switzerland’s hospital coverage is dense, but expensive, and he suggests that smaller hospitals and clinics be closed, and that the remaining ones specialize.

This would mean that patients might have to travel farther for treatment.

Switzerland has already closed many hospitals over the past decade: the number fell from 399 hospitals in 1999 to 321 in 2007. Smaller regional hospitals are widely seen as providing good care close to home, they provide jobs, and the atmosphere is more relaxed. There is considerable political opposition to closing them.

Links to other sites: NZZ (Ger), TSR

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