Family doctor, pharmacy, Permanence, emergency: if you know the levels of care, you get the right treatment faster — and keep the emergency departments free for real emergencies.
Switzerland has one of the best healthcare systems in the world — and yet, in everyday life, it is surprisingly hard to navigate. Is this something for the pharmacy or the family doctor? What does a Permanence do — and when is the hospital emergency department really the right place? Everyone faces these questions at some point: people who grew up here just as much as newcomers who are used to different pathways of care. If you turn to the wrong place, a minor complaint can quickly become a hospital emergency — with long waiting times for everyone and considerably higher costs. This page shows you which point of care is right, and when.
In Switzerland, almost every good course of treatment begins with the family doctor. They know your history, treat most complaints directly — and refer you to specialists when it is truly needed. Ideally, you find a family practice before you need one — not once you are already ill.
Pharmacists are trained medical professionals. For minor complaints, questions about medications or self-care, they advise you without an appointment — and tell you honestly when you should see a doctor.
Many health insurers offer a medical advice line, some of them around the clock. If you are unsure how urgent a complaint is, this is often the fastest way to a professional assessment — and depending on your insurance model, the call may even be the intended first step.
When it cannot wait until your next family doctor appointment — in the evening, at the weekend, or if you do not have a family doctor yet — Permanences and urgent care clinics are the right address. They treat urgent but not life-threatening complaints without prior appointment.
The emergency department of a hospital is there for acute, potentially serious situations: severe injuries, shortness of breath, chest pain, unconsciousness, suspected stroke. In these cases, every minute counts — call 144. These are typical examples; other suddenly occurring or rapidly worsening severe symptoms may also require immediate emergency treatment. For less urgent concerns, there are the steps that come before this.
Urgency increases →
| Situation | Appropriate point of care |
|---|---|
| Complaints that do not improve on their own, and anything that should be examined | Family doctor |
| Medical question or uncertainty | Telemedicine / medical advice |
| Questions about medications, self-treatment for colds or minor wounds | Pharmacy |
| Urgent, but not life-threatening — family doctor not available | Permanence / urgent care clinic |
| Severe injury, difficulty breathing, unconsciousness, suspected stroke | Hospital emergency / 144 |
The central message: not every complaint that feels urgent is a medical emergency. Choosing the appropriate level of care usually means faster treatment.
Severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, unconsciousness, paralysis, sudden speech problems, serious injuries — here, every minute counts. Do not hesitate: call the ambulance service on 144 (the European emergency number 112 works as well).
Health insurance is mandatory: anyone taking up residence in Switzerland must take out basic insurance within three months. Benefits are set by law and identical across all insurers — illness and maternity are covered; the consequences of accidents are covered when no mandatory accident insurance — for example through the employer — already provides for it. Only the premiums differ: they vary depending on the provider, insurance model, and canton of residence. A comparison is worthwhile; households with lower incomes receive cantonal premium subsidies.
On top of this comes the monthly premium — it is due regardless and varies by insurer, model and canton of residence.
Yes. Every person living in Switzerland must take out mandatory basic insurance within three months of arrival or birth. The benefits of basic insurance are the same with every insurer — but the premiums differ depending on the insurer, the model and your canton of residence. Coverage applies retroactively from the date of arrival.
Highly recommended. For most people, the general practitioner's practice is the most sensible first point of contact: it treats most complaints itself, coordinates referrals to specialists, and knows your medical history. Whether you need to contact them first depends on your insurance model — under the standard model, you have free choice of doctor. Look for a practice before you need one: not all of them are accepting new patients; the conversation will show you who is.
In acute, potentially serious situations: severe injuries, intense chest pain, difficulty breathing, unconsciousness, signs of paralysis or suspected stroke. In life-threatening situations, call 144 immediately. For complaints that have remained unchanged for days, the family doctor or a Permanence is the right — and usually faster — address.
A Permanence is a practice for urgent but not life-threatening cases — without prior appointment, often with long opening hours, including evenings and weekends. It closes the gap between the family practice and the hospital emergency department.
Treatment in a hospital is usually significantly more expensive than in primary care — and you bear part of it yourself through franchise and co-payment. Those who first choose the appropriate level of care are often treated faster and pay less.
In the standard model, you choose your doctor freely. In the family doctor model, you go to your designated family doctor first; in the HMO model, to a group practice first; in the Telmed model, you call the telephone advice line first. In return, the premiums are lower. Real emergencies are always covered in every model.
Many practices speak English or other languages; this is often noted in the practice details. If possible, bring someone to accompany you, or use your health insurer's telephone advice lines, some of which are multilingual.
No family doctor yet? We show you the GP practices near you — with phone numbers to call directly.
