An association of Swiss vegetable farmers is demanding 6.6 million francs ($8.2 million) of compensation from the government for losses incurred during the recent E. coli epidemic in Germany.

"/> An association of Swiss vegetable farmers is demanding 6.6 million francs ($8.2 million) of compensation from the government for losses incurred during the recent E. coli epidemic in Germany.

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Farmers call for E. coli compensation

An association of Swiss vegetable farmers is demanding 6.6 million francs ($8.2 million) of compensation from the government for losses incurred during the recent E. coli epidemic in Germany.

Published: 27 July 2011 11:36 CEST

Farmers call for E. coli compensation

Rob Owen-Wahl

The Association of Swiss Vegetable Producers (VSGP) said this week that farmers had lost substantial income over the four weeks in which the E. coli epidemic raged in Germany.

It added that 6.6 million francs would cover the cost of the vegetables destroyed in that period and the losses in sales.

The Agriculture Ministry has agreed in principle to the compensation, but said that the exact amount was still in dispute.

The ministry said that payments for the destruction and loss of sales of cucumbers and tomatoes were acceptable, but that it was reserving judgement on the production of lettuces.

“We don’t understand this position,” VSGP director Beat Stierli told the Neue Zürcher Zeitung newspaper. “For us, the situation with lettuce sales is the same as with cucumber and tomatoes.”

Stierli added that the vegetable market had still not recovered from the effects of the E. coli outbreak, but that it was not planning to make anymore demands. He also said that 6.6 million francs was substantially less than the losses to the industry as a whole.

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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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