Top doctors warn government of collapse of hospital system
Representatives of five university hospitals have sent a warning to Health Minister Alain Berset about overburdened medical institutions due to the influx of Covid-19 patients.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/ac
Español
es
Médicos advierten de colapso hospitalario en Suiza
On Sunday, the SonntagsZeitung newspaper reported that the doctors had sent Berset a joint letter expressing “great concern about the current situation”. They wrote that beds in intensive care units are becoming scarce and nursing staff have reached breaking point. In addition, more than 4,000 operations have been postponed in these university hospitals since October.
“Ethical questions are going to arise,” warned Uwe E. Jocham, director of the Inselspital in the Swiss capital Bern.
Hospital directors fear that there will be a third wave after Christmas and that the hospital system will collapse. They are therefore calling for stricter intervention by the governing Federal Council. At the Zurich University Hospital there are only three free beds left in the intensive care unit, they say. Their views were echoed by three of Zurich canton’s chief doctors in the NZZ am Sonntag paper.
“The health care system is already overburdened. For weeks now,” said Urs Karrer, chief physician at the Winterthur Cantonal Hospital, Huldrych Günthard, professor of infectious diseases at Zurich University Hospital, and Gerhard Eich, chief infectious diseases specialist at the Triemli Hospital.
Popular Stories
More
Foreign affairs
Why Swiss trams have become sought-after vehicles in Ukraine
Switzerland participates in ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting
This content was published on
This engagement was part of a four-day tour of Southeast Asia, aimed at advancing the Swiss Federal Council's Southeast Asia Strategy.
Majority of shareholders approve sustainability reports of major Swiss companies
This content was published on
Shareholders have approved the sustainability reports of the largest Swiss companies by a large majority at their annual general meetings.
EU releases €1.5B frozen assets to Ukraine: Switzerland opts out
This content was published on
The EU announced the release of €1.5 billion (CHF1.44 billion) in aid to Ukraine. Switzerland will not follow the EU's approach.
Five people charged in connection with deadly Swiss rockslide
This content was published on
Five people have been charged with multiple negligent homicide in connection with the deadly Bondo rockslide that occurred seven years ago.
Government confirms stricter measures to curb Covid-19 rise
This content was published on
Switzerland has ordered restaurants, bars and shops to close from 7pm across much of the country from Saturday, with some exceptions.
Emergency vaccine approval not legal option in Switzerland
This content was published on
Emergency approval process used by some countries to speed up the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines is not a legal option in Switzerland, Swissmedic says.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.