Voters approved measures to ease the workload of nurses in November 2021. The people’s initiative called on cantons to improve conditions for healthcare staff.
It is hoped that the reforms will boost the status of nurses and reverse a trend of healthcare staff shortages.
But a Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) survey has found only three cantons are fully ready to carry out the demands of the initiative. A fourth canton, Zurich, has almost completed preparations.
By contrast, ten of Switzerland’s 26 cantons still “have a lot of clarifications to carry out”.
The FOPH specifically points to a lack of progress at improving training courses, which the government is financing with CHF500 million ($540 million).
Less than a third of cantons have created a legal basis for fulfilling the demands of the initiative.
“Given the enormous shortage of nursing staff, this is incomprehensible,” Green Party parliamentarian Manuela Weichelt told the SonntagsZeitung newspaper.
The FOPH pointed out that the survey reflects the situation last summer and said it was confident that cantons would get up to speed.
However, the conference of cantonal health directors says the reforms are being delayed by a lack of detailed information from the government.
Most Read Swiss Abroad
More
The Böögg, Switzerland’s exploding psychic snowman
In Switzerland more people are being referred to electrical therapies or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Are there similar approaches where you live?
Switzerland to give millions to three UN organisations
This content was published on
Switzerland is supporting Unicef, UN Women and the UN Population Fund this year with a total of CHF39 million ($47 million).
Electricity reserves still needed in Switzerland in midterm
This content was published on
Switzerland's energy supply remains uncertain. Electricity reserves are still needed in the medium term, the Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom) said.
ICRC says next few days will be ‘decisive’ for aid to Gaza
This content was published on
The next few days will be absolutely decisive if the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to continue providing aid in the Gaza Strip, said its director-general Pierre Krähenbühl.
Switzerland unveils a national drought-detection system
This content was published on
Switzerland launched on Thursday a new national system for detecting drought and warning the population and authorities in advance.
Federal coffers to get CHF100 million boost from Swiss Post
This content was published on
Swiss Post will pay a dividend of CHF100 million ($121 million) to the Confederation this year, the company announced on Thursday.
Swiss Federal Railways satisfied with bodycams for transport police
This content was published on
Since the introduction of body-worn cameras, the frequency of assaults on Swiss Federal Railways transport police has fallen by 25%.
Zurich cantonal government to compensate victims of forced labour
This content was published on
Victims of past forced labour measures in canton Zurich could soon apply to receive a one-off solidarity compensation of CHF25,000 ($30,255).
Risk of a real-estate bubble in Switzerland grew in first quarter
This content was published on
The risk of a bubble in the Swiss property market increased slightly in the first three months of the year compared with the previous quarter, says UBS.
French authorities order Nestlé to remove its filtration system
This content was published on
Authorities in the south of France have served formal notice to Nestlé Waters, a subsidiary of the Swiss food giant, to "withdraw within two months" its microfiltration system for its Perrier mineral water.
Switzerland says pushbacks at border by Germany are unlawful
This content was published on
Switzerland considers Germany's planned systematic pushbacks at the border to be contrary to existing law, the department of justice has said.
Covid pandemic has been ‘devastating’ for Swiss nurses
This content was published on
The 2020 survey on working conditions for nurses in Switzerland painted a bleak picture. What has changed with the pandemic?
This content was published on
Healthcare personnel in Switzerland can hope for a boost as voters decided on a proposal to improve working conditions for nurses.
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.