More women are entering the medical field in Switzerland but gender diversity in top ranks is still lacking. Women represent one out of seven chief physicians in Switzerland.
The number of foreign doctors is also on the rise, according to Swiss Foundation of Medicine (FMH) 2018 medical statisticsExternal link published on Wednesday in its weekly bulletin.
In 2018, there were 37,525 doctors in Switzerland, some 625 more than the previous year. While women represent less than half of doctors (15,982 women and 21,543 men), there are more women than men entering the profession.
The FMH reports that in 2017, women represented more than half of the students enrolled in a bachelor’s and master’s degree program in medicine (Bachelors: 2,923 women and 1,745 men; Masters: 1,849 women and 1,397 men).
Just over 1,000 students graduated last year with a federal degree in medicine, a majority of whom were women.
However, gender diversity is still lacking in the higher ranks of the medical profession. Once the diploma is in hand, women are more often found in lower ranking positions such as assistant doctors (58.6%) and clinic managers (47.9%). But at higher levels, women make up just under a quarter of assistant physicians (24.5%) and 12.4% of chief physicians.
Foreign doctors
There are also a growing number of foreign-born or -trained doctors, making up more than a third of doctors (13,266). More than half of foreign doctors come from Germany (53.8%) followed by Italy (8.8%), France (6.7%) and Austria (6.1%)
Switzerland has a medical density of 4.4 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants (3.9 if full-time equivalents). This is higher than the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average of 3.6 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants. However, it remains comparable to that of neighbouring countries Germany (4.2), Austria (5.1), Italy (4) and France (3.2).
General internal medicine is the most common specialization (22.1% of practising physicians). It is followed by psychiatry and psychotherapy (10.2%), gynaecology and obstetrics (5.1%), pediatrics (5.0%) and anesthesiology (4.1%).
More
More
Will there be enough family physicians to treat your ailments?
This content was published on
If young general practitioners don’t want to be on call round the clock, can a group practice model stem a GP shortage?
Swiss authorities announce cost-cutting in asylum sector
This content was published on
The government notably wants to improve integration into the labour force, particularly for people with protection status S.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
This content was published on
The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
This content was published on
In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
This content was published on
As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
This content was published on
After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
Swiss study: insects mainly migrate at midday and dusk
This content was published on
A study led by the Swiss Ornithological Institute in canton Lucerne is helping to better understand the movement patterns of migratory insects.
Red Cross: 22 staff killed in Middle East since October
This content was published on
The Red Cross and Red Crescent network in Gaza and Israel has lost 22 staff members since last October, the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) said on Wednesday.
Dortmund’s Kobel is first Swiss goalie in Champions League final
This content was published on
Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel has achieved history by becoming the first Swiss goalkeeper to reach a Champion’s League final.
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.
Read more
More
Cabinet wants restrictions on foreign doctors
This content was published on
The government has presented plans to introduce additional quality controls and language tests to keep in check the number of medical doctors.
A fracture exposes cracks in Switzerland’s hospital system
This content was published on
A senior shares how she was bounced among hospitals for a straightforward health problem, experiencing systemic healthcare issues along the way.
This content was published on
The number of doctors is increasing in Switzerland. Although men remain in the majority, the proportion of female doctors is up.
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.