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OneDoc Pro Blog Pediatricians Shortage of paediatricians in Switzerland: strategies for paediatricians facing growing patient demand

Shortage of paediatricians in Switzerland: strategies for paediatricians facing growing patient demand

Last updated on 17/03/2026 Pediatricians
Comment faire face à la demande croissante en pédiatrie? Impacts sur les soins et solutions concrètes pour optimiser l’organisation du cabinet en Suisse.

The shortage of pediatricians in Switzerland is worsening dramatically: one in four pediatricians will retire by 2029, while several hundred pediatricians are already missing today. For practicing pediatricians, this means in concrete terms: overcrowded waiting rooms, less time available per patient, and increasing pressure to maintain quality of care.

How does the shortage of pediatricians affect patient care?

The impact of the pediatrician shortage on daily patient care is multifaceted. Parents report waiting times of several weeks for routine appointments. A recent study shows unequal access to basic pediatric care in Switzerland, with some regions being significantly disadvantaged.

Reduced consultation time: The increased influx of patients leads to less time available per patient. What used to be a 15-minute consultation often now has to be managed in 10 minutes. This affects the quality of medical history taking, physical examinations, and the time available for clear explanations.

Emergency treatments vs. routine check-ups: Practices increasingly have to set priorities. Routine examinations such as health check-ups or vaccination appointments are postponed, while acute cases are treated as a priority. This creates gaps in prevention and an overload of emergency services, which become the first point of contact.

Psychological burden on staff: The constant time pressure leads to chronic stress, feelings of guilt, and an increased risk of burnout. Time pressure also increases the risk of diagnostic errors.

Optimizing practice organization: efficient processes with a high number of patients

Despite the systemic shortage, pediatricians can improve their work efficiency through optimized practice organization.

Smart appointment management

Online booking systems with pre-appointment questionnaire: Modern online appointment booking systems allow parents to schedule appointments independently and provide important information in advance (symptoms, duration, medical history). This saves valuable minutes during the consultation.

Structured time slots: Reserve 2–3 slots daily for acute cases (for example 8:00–9:00 a.m.), schedule routine appointments during quieter periods, and double appointments for complex chronic conditions. Fixed telephone consultation hours for questions ease the daily workload of the practice. Consciously plan buffer time for unexpected emergencies.

Delegation and teamwork

Delegate tasks to medical assistants: Make optimal use of your team’s skills – trained medical assistants can conduct preliminary medical history interviews, administer vaccinations after medical validation, handle simple wound care, and provide standardized advice on topics such as fever or nutrition.

Digital solutions

Electronic patient records (EPR): Access to complete medical histories saves valuable time – all previous results, vaccinations, and allergies are visible at a glance, and duplicate examinations are avoided.

Telemedicine for follow-ups: Video consultations allow the assessment of skin conditions, wound healing, or general health status, save travel time for families, and increase your capacity. Automated reminder systems reduce missed appointments.

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How to solve the pediatrician shortage in Switzerland?

The shortage of pediatricians requires structural solutions at different levels. The FOPH report of March 2025 identifies concrete areas for action.

Improve undergraduate and postgraduate training: More practical exposure during medical studies through early rotations, financial support via scholarships and paid continuing education positions, as well as predictable career paths are essential.

Increase the attractiveness of the profession: A revision of TARMED for adequate remuneration, flexible working models (part-time, job sharing), and a reduction of administrative burden through digitalization are necessary.

New models of care: Group practices offer workload distribution, exchange between colleagues, and greater attractiveness for young professionals. Interdisciplinary health centers pool expertise and enable extended opening hours. Cooperation between urban and rural areas through financial incentives, rotation models, and telemedicine improves care in underserved regions.

Quality before quantity: maintaining treatment standards despite time pressure

Despite the immense pressure, quality of care remains the absolute priority. Strategic prioritization distinguishes between acute and chronic cases, recognizes red flags, and telephone triage helps assess urgency.

Focus on evidence-based medicine: Standardized examination protocols for common clinical presentations, guideline-compliant treatment, and avoiding overdiagnosis ensure quality. A targeted medical history according to the SAMPLE scheme efficiently gathers the essentials.

Efficient documentation: Templates and text blocks for routine findings, voice recognition during the examination, and a focus on medically relevant results save time.

Communication with parents: building trust despite limited time

Effective communication is central in pediatrics. Active listening through eye contact, nodding, and confirmation as well as paraphrasing (“If I understand you correctly…”) shows empathy even in short consultations.

The three key questions structure every consultation: “What is the main problem?”, “What are you most afraid of?” and “What do you expect from me today?”. End with a clear summary: diagnosis in simple terms, a concrete treatment plan, and warning signs.

Transparency about waiting times: Honest communication about workload and referral to alternative contact points (pharmacies, hotlines, general practitioners) create understanding. Information sheets on common illnesses and their management reduce unnecessary consultations.

Building trust: Sit down, touch the child, and speak directly to them. Clear and understandable explanations in simple language, written treatment plans, and clear information about availability in case of complications create reassurance.

Overload of pediatricians in Switzerland: self-care and burnout prevention

Overload and burnout are real risks. Be attentive to the signs: chronic exhaustion, emotional fatigue, reduced performance, cynicism, and social withdrawal.

Setting boundaries in daily practice

Plan realistic capacities: Accept that you cannot take on all new patients. Establish transparent waiting lists, limit emergency capacities, and learn to say no.

Respect breaks: At least 30 minutes of lunch break, micro-breaks between consultations, clear end-of-work hours, and protected weekends are not a luxury, but a necessity for sustainable patient care.

Resources for overloaded pediatricians

Peer support groups: Quality circles, peer consultation, and informal networks offer valuable exchange. Do not hesitate to seek professional support through supervision, coaching, or psychotherapy.

Offers from professional associations: mfe and pädiatrie schweiz offer counseling services, continuing education on self-care, and political advocacy. Firmly schedule at least 4 weeks of annual vacation.

Part-time models and group practices

Job sharing and group practices distribute the workload: shared on-call duties, holiday coverage, emotional support, and professional second opinions. Rotation systems significantly reduce on-call burden.

Your health is the foundation of sustainable patient care. Self-care is a professional responsibility.

Managing shortages of pediatric medications

Supply shortages of pediatric medications further aggravate the situation. Swissmedic introduced a new emergency regulation in April 2025 that facilitates the import of non-authorized medicines in shortage situations.

Practical management: Monitoring stock levels and ordering early, proactive communication with pharmacies about alternative supply sources, as well as knowledge of therapeutic alternatives (other active substances, alternative dosage forms) are central.

Communication with parents: Inform early about shortages, provide reassurance regarding equivalent alternatives, and give practical advice. In critical situations, use Swissmedic’s emergency regulation or contact hospital pharmacies.

Networks and cooperation: together against the pediatrician shortage

The pediatrician shortage cannot be managed by individual practices alone. Collective solutions and strong networks are decisive.

Collaboration with other practices: Practice networks coordinate activities, share infrastructure, and exchange knowledge. Replacement networks with 5–10 pediatricians enable mutual coverage during vacations and planning security.

Shared on-call services: Rotating systems mean only one week out of 4 or 5 on call. Central emergency practices for evenings and weekends are operated jointly.

Interdisciplinary cooperation: Direct contacts with child and adolescent psychiatry, specialized pediatric nurses, social services, and therapists improve care.

Role of professional associations: Actively use MFE Family and Childhood Doctors Switzerland and pediatrics switzerland for counseling, continuing education, and political engagement. Support petitions and engage in public debate.

Future perspectives: new care models for Switzerland

Despite current challenges, there are innovative approaches that show ways out of the care crisis.

Health centers as a model for the future: Interdisciplinary centers such as Flor Health Center offer one-stop services for families, salaried employment with regular working hours for physicians, extended opening hours, and efficiency gains through shared infrastructure.

Telemedicine in pediatrics: Video consultations for follow-ups, photographic documentation of skin changes, digital triage, and e-prescriptions expand capacity – while taking limitations into account, as physical examinations often remain indispensable.

Expanded competency profile for nurses: Advanced practice nurses with extended competencies can independently manage routine cases, chronic diseases, and vaccinations, relieving physicians for complex cases.

Integration of general practitioners: General practitioners handle simpler cases, while pediatricians specialize in developmental disorders, chronic diseases, and complex diagnostics.

Your role in the future: As a practicing pediatrician, you can help shape the future through openness to new models, digital skills, political engagement, and promoting the next generation.

Committing to the future of pediatrics in Switzerland

The shortage of pediatricians in Switzerland is a complex challenge that requires both structural solutions and individual adaptations. Through optimized practice organization, effective communication, self-care, and collective networks, you as a pediatrician can provide high-quality care despite unfavorable framework conditions. At the same time, your commitment to better working conditions and new care models is central to improving the situation in the long term. Your work is more valuable than ever in these challenging times, for the children and families who rely on you.

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