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Switzerland and Italy to suspend cross-border train services indefinitely

Switzerland and Italy will halt all cross-border rail services from Thursday because train personnel do not have capacity to carry out COVID-19 safety checks.

Published: 8 December 2020 17:02 CET

Switzerland and Italy to suspend cross-border train services indefinitely

Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Train staff are unable to carry out the checks, which have been ordered by the Italian government, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

The move to suspend the trains is in place indefinitely and affects dozens of daily cross-border services, including 'EuroCity' connections and long-distance trains between Milan and Frankfurt.

Regional trains that connect the two countries, which are used by thousands of cross-border workers are also affected.

Switzerland and neighbouring Italy, Germany and France had already reduced train services in November, but the Italian government introduced new requirements due to the surge in cases during the second wave of the pandemic.

That has resulted in the train services being halted as they were during the first wave back in spring.

Italy did not explicitly forbid train travel abroad, but its requirements — including for passengers’ temperatures to be measured — exceed the capacity of train personnel, an SBB spokeswoman told Reuters, leading to the decision to suspend the Swiss-Italian routes.

“Swiss Federal Railways trains will travel only to the country’s border to Italy,” SBB said.

Italy, France and Germany have also introduced new requirements meant to prevent skiers from travelling over the holidays to Switzerland and Austria, where resorts are due to be open for limited, locals-only skiing.

The SBB has promised to refund people who purchased tickets, reports 20 Minutes.

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How difficult is it to change your doctor in Switzerland?

There are a number of reasons why you may want to leave your GP and find a new one.

Maybe you don’t like their bedside manner, are not happy with the medical care, or are simply moving away and need to find someone closer to your new home.

Whatever the reason, whether or not you can easily switch from one doctor to another depends on the kind of health insurance you have.

Different models, different rights

If you have the ‘standard’ — and typically the most expensive — type of the obligatory health insurance (KVG / LaMal), then you are free to switch your GPs at will, and you don’t have to inform the insurance carrier of the switch.

However, if you have opted for one of the cheaper insurance models, then your right to switch doctors may be limited:

Family doctor model’

It is the most popular in Switzerland (and 20 percent cheaper than standard insurance policy premiums).

Under this model, you have a family doctor who will manage your care — that is, treat you or send you to specialists if needed (with the exception of gynecologists and eye doctors, who don’t require a referral).

You can’t, however, change doctors at will, unless your insurance company approves the switch.

Telemedicine model

If you have opted for the Telemed formula, you must call a health hotline set up by your insurance company.

They will give you a referral to a doctor or hospital based on your symptoms.

Heath Maintainance Organisation (HMO)

Under this model, policyholders are required to consult a particular HMO practice. Two disadvantages of this alternative is a limited choice of doctors and you also need a referral to see a specialist.

So the only option that gives you the right to switch doctors with no hassle is the standard one, with the family doctor model also possibly allowing you to do so, under certain circumstances.

The way Telmed and HMO are set up, however, switching doctors is not possible. If that option is important to you, then you will have to switch to the (more expensive) standard insurance.

The only exception to the above restrictions are emergencies, when you need urgent medical treatment.

Assuming you have the standard model, how do you go about changing?

The process is pretty simple: you can find physicians in your area either through recommendations from people you know (which is the best way to ensure you will not be getting an ‘anonymous’ doctor) or, if no recommendations are available, then through the OneDoc platform, which lists which doctors are taking new patients and where.

You can then make an appointment directly online.

When you do so, ask your current physician’s office to transfer your file to the new doc.

You don’t need to explain the reasons for the switch.

READ ALSO: The essential Swiss websites you need to use for health matters

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