A committee of the National Council in Switzerland has voted in favour of plans to impose a new fine on non-essential visits to emergency rooms. Supporters hope the plan will boost funding for Swiss healthcare and reduce insurance premiums overall, but critics say the plan will hurt patients and is too bureaucratic.
Late last week, and by just 13 votes to 12, the Social and Health Committee of the National Council passed a proposal to introduce a special fee for those who visit accident and emergency facilities for non-essential reasons.
Under the plans, everyone who visits A&E at Swiss hospitals with a “minor or non-urgent complaint” or affliction will be issued a special surcharge of 50 francs. This charge will be added to the patient’s deductible, meaning it will not be covered by basic health insurance.
While healthcare providers would not be forced to use the surcharge, the proposal would give Swiss cantons and hospitals the right to impose the tax if they choose to. It would also be up to each region to decide what a “minor or non-urgent complaint” is.
The proposal itself is far from new, having been submitted by Green Liberal Party National Councillor Martin Bäumle before the COVID pandemic. The measure has also been heard by parliament on multiple occasions, most recently in 2023 and 2024.
In the text of the original proposal, Bäumle maintained that unnecessary emergency room visits put pressure on the healthcare system. “Many people go to the emergency room frequently for minor problems... because of them, patients who really need acute help have to wait longer," he noted.
He went on to argue that the measure would help reduce the overall cost of Swiss health insurance by reducing the number of emergency admissions. Supporters also note that at 50 francs per visit, the fee is large enough to be a deterrent, but small enough to not heavily impact personal finances.
Interestingly, the committee’s approval comes after months of consultation, in which a majority of parties and interest groups voiced their opposition to the A&E surcharge. Many, such as Social Democratic National Councillor Sarah Wyss back in 2024, argued that the change could put people off going to hospital, even if they have a serious condition that needs urgent treatment.
She added that most people don’t know what a “minor or non-urgent complaint” is, adding that minor afflictions can be the prelude to more serious conditions. Also back in 2024, the Swiss hospital association H+ argued that the tax would create a “bureaucratic monster” that would end up costing more than it would bring in.
In spite of these protests, following the vote in the committee, the proposal will now be sent to the Federal Council. If the executive approves the plans, it will then be submitted for a vote involving the whole of parliament.
Thumb image credit: Michael Derrer Fuchs / Shutterstock.com