Healthcare
Switzerland has an excellent healthcare and medical system, with a high density of doctors and hospitals. Geneva University Hospital (HUG) is the largest in Switzerland and a leading research center.
Health insurance
Everyone living in Switzerland must take out compulsory basic health insurance. In addition, you may take a supplementary insurance to cover additional benefits (e.g. dental treatment, single room in hospital).
You can opt for free choice of doctor, which allows you to consult a doctor or specialist, or choose a family doctor who will be your first point of contact.
The contract is for one year and defines your monthy premium. The amount varies according to the deductible part you will choose.
More information on health insurance here
Find a doctor for a consultation
It is advisable to make appointments in advance, as a same-day appointment may be billed as an emergency.
Except at the dentist’s, the consultation is not paid for on the spot. The bill is sent either directly to the health insurance company or to your home address. Reimbursement depends on the insurance cover and excess chosen.
Directory of doctors by speciality and language spoken
http://amge.ch/
On-line appointement booking (available in english)
https://www.onedoc.ch/en/
Directory of clinics in Geneva
https://www.geneve-cliniques.ch/
Medical emergencies
In case of a life-threatening emergency: call 144
If you can get to the hospital: first check the waiting times in the 6 medical emergency centres of Geneva
https://www.hug.ch/rug
Doctor’s surgeries, dental surgeries and medical and surgical centres are often less busy than hospital emergency departments:
- Association des Médecins du Canton de Genève (“FMH” : Swiss doctors federation).
- Geneva private clinics assocation
- Magellan : medical centers in Geneva and Vaud cantons
- sso.ch : Swiss dentists society (SSO)
Home consultation (Geneva)
If you are unable to travel, you can also request an emergency consultation at home:
Pediatrics
Pediatrics emergencies at HUG
Av de la Roseraie 47, 1205 Genève – 022 372 45 55 24h/24, 7j/7
Pediatrics emergencies at Clinique des Grangettes
Chemin des Grangettes 7, 1207 Chêne-Bougeries 022 305 01 11
Clinique Générale-Beaulieu
Chemin Beau-Soleil 20, 1206 Genève – 022 839 45 55 (sur RDV)
Hôpital de la Tour
av. J.-D. Maillard 3, 1217 Meyrin 022 719 61 11
Pediatric on-call service
0844 022 022
Medicines and pharmacies 24/7
Some common medicines are available over the counter in pharmacies, while others are only available on prescription.
24/7 pharmacy at HUG :
PHARMA24 – 022 808 00 18
On-call pharmacies in Geneva : https://pharmageneve.swiss/pharmacie-de-garde/
Geneva Airport :
- Sun Store 8h/21h every day – 058 878 53 20
- Pharmacie Principale : 6h à 20h30 every day
Cornavin station : Pharmacie Amavita – 7h-23h Monday to Saturday / 9h-23h Sunday
Eaux-Vives station : Pharmacie Principale – 9h-20h Monday to Saturday / 9h-19h Sunday
Directories for the canton of Vaud
- Vaud doctor’s society
- Vaud private clinics association
- Hospitals and emergencies for the city of Nyon
- On-call pharmacies in the canton of Vaud
