Healthcare A quarter of Swiss doctors are over 60 years old
In its statistics on doctors, the Swiss Medical Association FMH points to an impending shortage of specialists. A quarter of doctors are over 60 years old and are therefore close to retirement age, as the FMH announced on Wednesday.
15.04.2026, 09:16
15.04.2026, 10:34
SDA
Although around 5 percent more doctors were working in 2025 than in the previous year, according to the press release on the doctors' statistics. However, the figure of 44,612 doctors is not sufficient to keep pace with demographic developments, namely the growing average age of the population.
According to the press release, the average age of doctors is 50. A quarter are 60 years old or older. "This means that a large wave of retirements is approaching," warns the FMH.
The proportion of doctors who have completed their medical studies abroad has risen once again. Overall, around 75 percent of doctors who entered the healthcare system last year now have a degree obtained abroad, "a figure that has risen steadily in recent years", the FMH told Keystone-SDA. Most of them had completed their studies in Germany, Italy, France or Austria.
They now account for 43 percent of the entire medical profession. Switzerland is therefore still a long way from being able to cover its need for young doctors from its own resources.
Lack of basic care
According to the press release, this has a negative impact on basic care provided by GP practices. At 0.9 full-time equivalents per 1,000 inhabitants, this is low. A third of GP practices are no longer able to accept new patients.
According to the FMH, this is not due to a lack of interest. Doctors with specialist training would not shy away from primary care disciplines, while doctors from abroad are disproportionately active in specialties where they are also needed.
The FMH thus sees its demand for more study places in human medicine confirmed. It is also calling for more training and further training places with regard to outpatient care. And finally, it is campaigning for better working conditions in order to keep doctors in the profession.
