Optimal access to medical services

International visitors planning to seek medical treatment in Switzerland will find that the conditions are ideal. The Swiss healthcare system is the best in Europe by some distance in terms of access to medical services. This means very short time spans between a medical condition being identified and treatment starting. The close-knit network of medical centres of excellence and the large number of medical specialists is outstanding. In the European Health Consumer Index (EHCI) 2018, a recognised healthcare ranking, Switzerland was awarded maximum points in the Accessibility sub-discipline, which examined direct access to local specialists. The EHCI also compared waiting times for major elective surgeries, cancer treatments and CT scans. Switzerland scored maximum points in all areas and claimed an excellent first place.

Personal dedication from doctors
Dr Cédric A. George, founder and Medical Director of the Klinik Pyramide am See, firmly believes that “specialist expertise, personal dedication and constant availability are beneficial for our patients and create the best conditions for outstanding outcomes and rapid recovery.” The choice of the right hospital is made on the basis of each patient’s clinical picture. The enormously wide range of renowned medical establishments covers all specialist areas. If a different specialist needs to be consulted during a treatment, this can be organised without any problems. Switzerland’s centres of medical excellence are so close together that a transfer to a different hospital is generally only a small matter.

Short treatment times
Direct access to specialists in the country concerned is a key factor in the decision to seek medical treatment abroad. Astonishingly, there is a direct correlation between the average waiting time for a medical service and the quality of free access to medical experts. Treatment happens more quickly when patients can contact their desired doctor directly. There is often an expectation that allowing patients to choose their doctor will lead to excessive demand for specialists and cause the healthcare system to collapse. In fact, precisely the opposite is true: direct, efficient treatment paths complement the healing process. Patients recover more quickly, putting less pressure on the healthcare system as a result. Where specialist referrals are made exclusively via primary healthcare providers acting as gatekeepers, on the other hand, patient waiting times are significantly increased. This ultimately increases treatment costs, since the treatment takes longer. A protracted recovery process is even more disruptive for international patients, as they are only in the country for a limited period of time.

Text: Dr Kathrin Zimmermann