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Density of medical doctors (per 10,000 population) (2012-2020): 43.8
Density of nursing and midwifery personnel (per 10,000 population) (2012-2020): 182.6
Density of dentists (per 10,000 population) (2012-2020): 4.1
Density of pharmacists (per 10,000 population) (2012-2020): 6.7

Source: World health statistics 2022: monitoring health for the SDGs, sustainable development
goals. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

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Remuneration of Hospital Nurses, Ratio to Average Wage (2019): 0.9
Remuneration of Hospital Nurses, USD PPP (2019): $55,800

Source: OECD (2021), Health at a Glance 2021: OECD Indicators, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/ae3016b9-en.

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“The number of health workers in Switzerland has seen a strong increasing tendency over the past two decades, in particular, for physicians and nurses, while it has remained more or less stable for dentists, pharmacists and midwives (see Table 4.5). The number of practising physicians increased by almost 40% between 1990 and 2013, i.e. from about 3 per 1000 population to about 4 per 1000 population. The proportion of physicians practising in hospitals remained more or less stable and was at about 45% in 2012. There are a number of data problems, which complicate comparisons over time (see note to Table 4.5). However, it is clear that the specialties of paediatrics, and psychiatry and psychology saw the strongest increases. The number of nurses increased by almost 35% between 2000 and 2013. Yet, it should be kept in mind that these numbers reflect physical persons (PP) and do not take into account shifts in part-time employment. The development of full-time equivalents (FTE) may have been different as there has been a trend towards more part-time work.”

Source: De Pietro C, Camenzind P, Sturny I, Crivelli L, Edwards-Garavoglia S, Spranger A, Wittenbecher F, Quentin W. Switzerland: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 2015; 17(4):1–288.

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“In 2013, the number of physicians and nurses per 1000 population was amongst the highest in Europe (see Fig. 4.7). With 4.1 physicians and 17.7 nurses (including midwives) per 1000 inhabitants, Switzerland had the second highest combined number of physicians and nurses after Monaco in the entire European Region (see Fig. 4.7). In fact, the number of nurses was the highest amongst all countries in the European Region, although there might be some inconsistencies concerning the classification of nurses and nursing assistants in international databases. The number of physicians is likely to be even higher than shown in the figure because data on physicians working and specializing in hospitals is thought to be incomplete.”

Source: De Pietro C, Camenzind P, Sturny I, Crivelli L, Edwards-Garavoglia S, Spranger A, Wittenbecher F, Quentin W. Switzerland: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 2015; 17(4):1–288.

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“The number of practising physicians increased by 26.3% between 2000 and 2012 (from 25,216 to 31,858), corresponding to an increase of 13.5% per 1000 population (from 3.50 to 3.97) (FMH, 2014). This increase can be compared to international figures, where the number of physicians (measured in physical persons, PP, and not in FTE) has also increased in most countries (see Fig. 4.8).”

Source: De Pietro C, Camenzind P, Sturny I, Crivelli L, Edwards-Garavoglia S, Spranger A, Wittenbecher F, Quentin W. Switzerland: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 2015; 17(4):1–288.

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“Nurse density in Switzerland in 2013 (17.7 per 1000 population) was the highest within the WHO European Region and almost twice as high as the average of the region, followed closely by Norway (17.2) and Denmark (16.6, dates from 2012) (see Figs. 4.7 and 4.12). Despite its high level, nurse density continues to increase. In contrast to the high level of nurses, Switzerland has a relatively low ratio of 0.31 midwives per 1000 population, which is similar to the average of the EU15 (0.30) but far below the average of the United Kingdom (0.49).”

Source: De Pietro C, Camenzind P, Sturny I, Crivelli L, Edwards-Garavoglia S, Spranger A, Wittenbecher F, Quentin W. Switzerland: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 2015; 17(4):1–288.

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“Increasing national capacity for the training of health workers is a high priority in Switzerland, as documented by the inclusion of the objective “more and well qualified healthcare workers” in the Health2020 strategy (FDHA, 2013). In 2010, a Masterplan for training of health care professionals, focusing on non-university based health professionals, was agreed upon by – among others – the FOPH [Federal Office of Public Health], GDK/CDS [Conference of the Cantonal Ministers of Public Health] and OdASanté (SERI, 2010). The aim of the plan is to increase training capacity for nurses and other care professionals in order to overcome the estimated lack of about 4500 nationally trained professionals and to reduce dependency on migrants. In addition, in 2011, the government passed a strategy against physician shortage, calling for the number of physicians trained each year to be increased from 800 to around 1300 (Federal Council, 2011). More recently, the aim has been set to at least 1100 by 2016/2017 (FOPH, 2014f).”

Source: De Pietro C, Camenzind P, Sturny I, Crivelli L, Edwards-Garavoglia S, Spranger A, Wittenbecher F, Quentin W. Switzerland: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 2015; 17(4):1–288.

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“There are five medical faculties in Switzerland, located in Zurich, Basel, Bern, Geneva and Lausanne. In addition, students can study for at least parts of their Bachelor of Medicine in Fribourg (all three years) and Neuchâtel (the first year only). Basic training as a physician lasts at least six years. After successful completion of three years of studies, students are granted a Bachelor of Medicine. After three further years (two at university and one in practical training), they obtain a Master of Medicine. Master graduates can then take a final state exam after which they are awarded the Swiss confederate medical diploma. Graduates who hold this diploma are qualified to work under supervision in a hospital or ambulatory care setting.

“The Joint Commission of the Swiss Medical Schools (SMIFK/CIMS) defines learning objectives for medical training at universities. Regulations for state exams of physicians and dentists are issued at the federal level with the inclusion of different stakeholders such as medical faculties, the Commission for Medicinal Professions and the SERI (see section 2.8.3 and FOPH, 2013f).

“In order to be allowed to work independently, physicians have to undertake further training. Training as a ‘practical physician’ takes at least three years after completion of medical studies and is the minimum requirement in order to be allowed to work independently in primary care. Practical physicians have the option to continue their training and to specialize in general internal medicine after another two years of training, with the alternative options of qualifying either as a GP or as a hospital generalist.

“Other specialist training programmes usually take between six and seven years of practice in different hospital departments related to the field of study (Obsan, 2013). Subsequently, doctors are allowed to work independently in hospitals or ambulatory care. There are currently 44 official specializations in Switzerland (Obsan, 2013). After successful specialization, doctors are legally bound to participate in continuous professional education according to a point system (Hänggeli & Bauer, 2010).”

Source: De Pietro C, Camenzind P, Sturny I, Crivelli L, Edwards-Garavoglia S, Spranger A, Wittenbecher F, Quentin W. Switzerland: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 2015; 17(4):1–288.

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World Health Systems Facts is a project of the Real Reporting Foundation. We provide reliable statistics and other data from authoritative sources regarding health systems and policies in the US and sixteen other nations.

Page last updated October 7, 2023 by Doug McVay, Editor.