Over 2 in 5 Doctors in Switzerland Are From Abroad, New Data Reveals
Switzerland’s healthcare system, renowned for its high quality, is increasingly relying on international talent. New data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) reveals that nearly 45.6% of doctors in the country were trained abroad. In some cantons, the proportion of foreign-trained physicians is even higher, highlighting Switzerland’s growing dependence on international medical professionals to meet its healthcare demands.
A Snapshot of Switzerland’s Healthcare Workforce
By the end of 2023, Switzerland’s healthcare system employed 185,800 people full-time, marking a 2.7% increase from the previous year. Among these, doctors handled 1.5 million inpatient stays and 23.9 million outpatient consultations. While hospitalizations rose slightly by 0.9% from 2022, the overall number of appointments decreased slightly. A key finding from the FSO data was that a significant number of doctors and nurses in Switzerland received their qualifications overseas. In fact, 45.6% of doctors and 31.9% of nurses were trained abroad.
The Growing Role of Foreign-Trained Doctors
The FSO data underscores a crucial trend: Swiss hospitals are increasingly dependent on doctors with foreign qualifications. Among the doctors practicing in Switzerland, 19.3% graduated from Germany, 3.1% from France, 5.1% from Italy, and 16.9% from other countries. Certain cantons, like Canton Ticino, have especially high proportions of foreign-trained doctors, with only 31.2% of physicians holding Swiss degrees. By contrast, Canton Zurich has the largest share of Swiss-trained doctors at 66.6%.
Nationality Breakdown of Foreign Doctors
The FMH report also revealed that the majority of non-Swiss doctors in Switzerland come from neighboring European countries. Of all foreign-trained doctors, 50% are German, with 9.5% from Italy, 7.1% from France, and 6% from Austria. Language and the ease of movement within the European Union contribute to the large numbers of German, Italian, and French doctors working in Switzerland, as they can more easily integrate into the Swiss healthcare system.
Tackling Healthcare Staff Shortages
The growing number of foreign-trained doctors is partly a response to ongoing staffing shortages in Switzerland’s healthcare sector. Healthcare remains one of the industries with the greatest need for new employees. In November 2023, the cantonal parliament of Zurich approved the creation of 500 new medical study places to help address the region’s shortage of 240 doctors. This number is expected to rise significantly in the coming years. As local officials, including FDP councillor Linda Camenisch, noted, the situation is urgent: “We are running out of time.”
The Future of Foreign Doctors in Swiss Healthcare
Switzerland’s healthcare system faces both opportunities and challenges as it increasingly relies on foreign-trained professionals. While the influx of doctors from abroad helps fill critical gaps in staffing, it also highlights the need for long-term solutions, such as increasing local medical training capacity. With a growing demand for healthcare professionals, Switzerland must balance foreign expertise with homegrown talent to ensure its healthcare system remains world-class and sustainable in the future.
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