A study, published in the medical journal “Molecular Psychiatry”, and released today by researchers at ETH Zurich, seems to suggest yet again that we are what we eat. This study is focussed not on waistlines but brainwaves. The results suggest an excessively fatty diet can prevent adolescent brains from fully maturing. The pre-frontal cortex, a late-to-develop […]
Plan to reduce health premiums for 26 to 35 year-olds rejected by cabinet
20 Minutes. A government commission has been developing a package of changes to Switzerland’s compulsory basic health insurance for the last five years. The group recently agreed on changes that would reduce the premiums paid by younger adults, who consume less health resource, and reduce the amount children pay. Part of this plan, which the commission […]
Swiss health insurance hikes announced for 2017
On 26 September 2016, the Federal Public Health Office (OFSP) announced Swiss health insurance premiums for 2017. The average increase across all cantons and insurance companies will be 4.5%, ranging from 3.5% to 7.3% depending on the canton. These figures are for standard cover for an adult with a deductible of CHF 300, including accident […]
Switzerland facing a shortage of doctors
24 Heures. Over 60% of family doctors will retire over the next ten years. By 2020, this will lead to a shortfall of 2,000. Talking to 24 Heures, Pierre-Alexandre Bart, professor of medicine at UNIL says “There is no time to lose”. Adding that UNIL has increased its training capacity from 110 to 120 medical students […]
Taking a cigarette on work time soon to be banned at this Swiss company
Le Matin. A company in the Swiss canton of Valais wants staff to clock out and back in again when they take smoking breaks. Under Swiss law the practice is perfectly legal and an increasing number of firms are implementing it, particularly in secondary industries such as manufacturing. According to Le Matin, Compagnie industrielle de […]
Cross-border workers can now choose between French and Swiss health insurance
Tribune de Genève. Those who work in Switzerland but live in France will soon be able to choose where they take out health insurance. In 2014, the French government made life difficult for many cross-border workers by removing the option of taking out private health insurance instead of paying into the French state health system. […]
Swiss health insurance premiums could rise 4 to 5 percent
24 Heures. Spokesperson Verena Nold from Santesuisse, an organisation representing many of Switzerland’s health insurers, told Swiss public radio last Friday that the organisation expects Swiss health insurance premiums to go up by a similar percentage in 2017 as they have in recent years. According to Ms Nold, people are going to the doctor more often, and […]
Swiss government wants vaccinations to be free from 2017
Le Matin. From 2017, all vaccinations covered by Switzerland’s compulsory health insurance could be free, even for those with a deductible. The extra costs have not yet been calculated and health insurers are concerned. Residents of Switzerland are required by law to take out basic health insurance. Individuals are free to choose their provider and […]
Swiss sleeping habits revealed
24 Heures. Among the residents of the industrialised nations included in a recent study on sleeping patterns, the Dutch came out on top, averaging 8 hours and 12 minutes of sleep each night. The shortest sleepers where the Japanese and Singaporeans who spent on average, 7 hours and 24 minutes sleeping a night. Swiss spend 7 […]
Swiss kids are eating too much of the wrong stuff
24 Heures. A recently released study shows how badly Swiss children are eating. Only 10% of those between 11 and 15 eat fruit and vegetables several times a day. And while fruit and vegetables are not popular, the survey carried out by Swiss Addiction, shows that sweet foods are. Close to one third of children […]
