Outpatient before inpatient — where it is medically appropriate
As of: 2026-07-27
The principle of outpatient before inpatient care is medically right when outpatient treatment is at least equally safe for the patient. It is not a savings programme and must not be run as one.
Starting point
For defined procedures, the rule in Switzerland is that they are generally performed on an outpatient basis unless medical reasons argue otherwise. The shift changes processes, follow-up care and financing at the same time.
Outpatient services and inpatient stays are financed differently. Those differences determine how sustainable a shift is for individual providers.
Our position
Freie Ärzte Schweiz supports outpatient provision wherever it is medically indicated, because it is less burdensome for many patients and speeds up the return to everyday life.
The individual indication remains decisive. Comorbidities, the home situation and follow-up options belong in the assessment. A shift that ignores these criteria endangers treatment quality.
Conditions for a sustainable shift
A shift is sustainable only if outpatient remuneration covers the real effort, if follow-up care and accessibility are secured, and if outcome quality is monitored systematically.
We deliberately state no savings figures. Serious claims about financial effects require robust, publicly verifiable data; where such data is missing, we refrain from estimates.
Sources and status
- BAG – TARDOC und ambulante Pauschalen(opens in a new tab)
- OAAT – FAQ zum Gesamttarifsystem(opens in a new tab)
- FMH – Höchstgrenze Taxpunktwert(opens in a new tab)
External sources. The original version published there always prevails.
status: 2026-07-27