Switzerland to create ‘basic health agenda’; Breakthrough in construction of flood relief tunnel; Swiss Gender-based pay gaps narrowing

New for 3 December 2024

Basic medical care is one of the pillars of the healthcare system, characterised by complete and continuous medical treatment, as well as coordination of long-term care provided to the patient. 

Due to demographic changes and a longer life expectancy, the need for medical care and treatment is increasing.

To meet these challenges, Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider said she is drawing up a Basic Care Agenda, in order to guarantee that everyone in Switzerland continues to have access to high-quality basic care.

“As part of this agenda, new innovative measures will be developed to ensure basic care for everyone and in all sectors; they will concern doctors, pharmacists and emergency services in hospitals, as well as psychotherapists, and staff of home care and long-term care institutions,” she said.

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On Tuesday, Zurich's most important flood protection project reached a milestone: the boring machine broke through the last centimetre of rock. Miners emerged from the tunnel into the open air to the sounds of the overture from the opera "William Tell." The 160-metre-long tunnel is intended to significantly reduce the flood risk by diverting the Sihl river into Lake Zurich.

After the first breakthrough on Tuesday (literally and figuratively), the tunnel should be ready for use by summer 2026.

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Women in Switzerland are getting closer and closer to men's salaries, according to latest figures by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

For instance, women earned 18 percent less than their male colleagues in 2020, but this disparity had narrowed to 16.2 percent two years later.

The FSO noted that pay varied greatly depending on the sector: narrower pay gap was found in the hotel and catering industry as well as in retail, and wider one in financial and insurance fields.