ThoseHealth system
“The career of hundreds of doctors is blocked by an administrative dysfunction”
The granting of specialist titles accuses months late. This threatens installations in office, internships and promotions, denounce many practitioners.
Some doctors have been waiting for their title for sometimes six or even eight months.
BEAT MATHYS
- Hundreds of Swiss doctors have been waiting for their specialist title for several months.
- The Swiss Institute for Postgraded and continuous medical training (ISFM) processes requests late due to internal and external factors.
- The ISFM promises to improve its deadlines thanks to several measures.
Adrien*, a doctor in Geneva, had a well -constructed career plan: after his postgraduate training in the hospital, he could resume the place of a colleague in the office. He only lacked his title as a FMH specialist, issued at the end of the postgraduate training, to get independent. But eight months after asking for this certification, still nothing. To the point of threatening his professional project.
Like Adrien, several hundred doctors in Switzerland are awaiting their title of specialist – cardiologists and general practitioners – for months. Geneva national councilor Cyril Aellen has just filed a motion In Bern to reduce these “unacceptable” granting times.
“Major professional consequences” for Swiss doctors
The specialty title – sometimes called “FMH title” – is in particular a prerequisite for obtaining an admission to be invoiced at the expense of compulsory insurance, allowing to invoice in the outpatient sector. “It is a recognition of the ability to make medicine without supervision,” sums up André Juillerat, co -president of the Association of Doctors of Institutions in Geneva (Amig). As when a driver’s student obtains his license. “
The Swiss Institute for Postgraded and continuous medical training (ISFM), an autonomous body of the Professional Association of Swiss Doctors (FMH), delivers it on the basis of files including in particular certificates of successful examinations and years of practice.
The delivery of the title generally took three months. “Now, since 2024, it has been about four months, then to six months since January, which is really problematic,” reports Philipp Thüler, deputy director of the Swiss association of assistants and clinical leaders (asmac).
Many testimonies even tell us about higher delays. “The career of hundreds of young practitioners is blocked by an administrative dysfunction, with adult professional and personal consequences,” denounces André Juillerat.
Seven months of waiting
Some find themselves unable to exercise as an independent, like Antoine*, who had to postpone his project, like Marc*, employed in a hospital establishment. The latter received his title after seven months. “But this period delayed my registration on the waiting list to open my office (Editor’s note: Geneva has reintroduced The need for need in 2022 which limits the installation of new doctors in private). At least two colleagues were able to register before me … “
He was able to extend his contract with the hospital, by endorsing the function of clinical chief, without FMH title, with more responsibilities, but without additional advantages. “With 50 hours of work per week instead of 40, without the additional vacation week or the 2,000 more francs per month!”
Justine*, who ranked in November and has been waiting for her title for eight months, adds: “It is obviously not the essential, but it is frustrating. For the same position, we do not have the same working conditions as our colleagues, all because of administrative dysfunctions. ”
Another problem: without FMH, doctors are forced to postpone, even to give up internships outside Switzerland since most foreign institutions require this title.
The icing on the cake: the nearly 4000 francs in file fees. “This price deserves a substantive debate, because the service delivered is absolutely not up to the task. Who and what are these sums for? ” Denounces Martin*, Geneva clinic manager, who also wonders about the treatment time: “Do you really need three months to decide on the case of a doctor who has carried out his whole course in Switzerland?”
Rise in demand and internal problems
For its part, the ISFM management declares to analyze each file rigorously: “The objective is to guarantee a reliable allocation and in accordance with the right, in the interest of patient safety and the quality of the medical profession.”
Asked about important waiting times, the ISFM advances several factors: an “exceptionally high” solicitations – more than 25% compared to 2024 – that the Institute explains in particular by “the growing interest in the activity in the office” and, in Geneva, by the need for need.
Internal reasons then: long -term absences for illness and wave of resignations within the team that processes requests, increasing complexity of files (courses abroad, part -time work, etc.).
How many files are currently pending? The institute does not provide figures “because, taken in isolation, they do not allow a reliable evaluation of the situation”. In 2024, the ISFM received 3304 requests, and already 1761 for 2025 (at the end of June).
The Institute also specifies that measures have been taken to absorb these delays, including a complete internal reorganization, the recruitment of employees, the introduction of new digital tools. “AI -based tools are in the implementation phase and optimizations are underway for automatic detection of incomplete files, by the end of the year.”
Finally, an accelerated procedure is provided for requests with an urgent character – for example in the event of a cabinet recovery.
Reduction of the requested rate
In the letter addressed in May to the internal doctors of the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), the ISFM notes “first progress”: “In April, the number of titles awarded increased by around 50% to reach almost 90 per month.” The delay nevertheless still caps at 175 days and it will only be reduced “very slowly, due to the number of files. The full processing capacity of around 250 titles per month is expected from August. ”
ASMAC, in regular contact with The Swiss Institute for Medical Trainingalso notes improvements, “but the delay to be filled is very important, underlines Philipp Thüler. We expect from the institute that he returns to a period of three months by January 2026. And we have asked that doctors who have to wait too long until obtaining benefit from a reduction in the fees. ”
*Known names of the editorial staff
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