What to do in case of illness

If you are insured with Advisor Swiss Insurance, the information from Advisor Swiss Insurance takes precedence and you must follow it. However, the following information may still help you if you become ill.

The emergency ward of a hospital is reserved for severe illnesses, critical accidents and life-threatening conditions!
In case of illness you normally go to a doctor (general practitioner). At weekends or during holidays there are doctors available.

Note: You are covered from the day you entered Switzerland.

Make sure you have your insurance card on you at all times!

If you have an urgent health problem (especially at night or on public holidays) that does not require the emergency ward, you can consult a doctor as follows:

Choose a doctor near your home and call for an appointment. Bring your health insurance card with you:
1. union of doctors FMH: external page www.doctorfmh.ch
2. find your doctor in Switzerland: external page www.doctor.ch
3. list of doctors in Zurich: external page ZMED
If you do not want to make an appointment or are unsure about which doctor to choose, you can also go to the "Permanence", a medical clinic which is located in the main station as well as in Oerlikon. It is open 365 days a year and you do not need an appointment. However, you may have to wait up to 1 or 2 hours until it's your turn:
1. external page Permanence Hauptbahnhof (Zurich main station)
2. external page Permanence Marktplatz Oerlikon
3. external page Permanence for Women (Frauen-Permanence Zurich)
4. external page Permanence Children (Swiss Medi Kids AG)
5. Basel: external page Medbase Toujours Basel Bahnhof (walk-in, 365 days)
If you have a minor medical problem such as a cold or cough, it is best to go to a external page pharmacy first and buy the appropriate medication there (and pay for it yourself). If your condition does not improve in a few days, see a doctor.
1. external page Bellevue Apotheke (open 24/7)
2. external page Apotheke im Hauptbahnhof

If you are unsure whether or not a treatment is covered by your health insurance, please double check with your insurance company!

Have you been treated by a doctor and paid the bill?

Check the procedure about how to get your money back as a student with an EU health insurance card or as a student without an EU health insurance card.

Contact persons

Administrative matters: Reception Service, Sandra Zweifel, , Tel +41 44 632 51 52
Academic matters: FCS Delegate, Prof. Stefano Bernasconi, , Tel +41 44 632 36 93