Health policy Ticino slightly adjusts licensing freeze for outpatient doctors
Following a transitional phase, the Ticino government has adjusted the specialist areas of outpatient medicine affected by a licensing restriction. As of July 1, dermatology, orthopaedic surgery, radiology and anaesthesia are exempt from the freeze.
23.06.2025, 14:26
SDA
In five disciplines subject to the licensing freeze - neurology, oncology, nephrology, surgery and plastic surgery - outpatient doctors who retire or resign for other reasons will no longer be replaced, explained Raffaele De Rosa, Head of Health in Ticino, to the media on Monday.
Outpatient doctors working in the fields of cardiology, gastroenterology and ear, nose and throat medicine (ENT) are also subject to restrictions.
For all eight disciplines - with the exception of ENT - a freeze on admissions has been in place since November 1, 2023. There are exceptions in areas with an undersupply.
Sharp rise in costs in Ticino
Medical services in the outpatient sector must continue to be monitored in the southern canton, De Rosa noted. This had been shown by the adjustment of the criteria after the two-year transition phase. The freeze on admissions should help to reduce costs in the healthcare sector.
In October 2023, the Ticino government set an upper limit for the admission of doctors working in the outpatient sector. Since July 2021, the cantons have been able to decide for themselves for which medical specialties or regions they want to limit the number of doctors by setting so-called maximum numbers.
The outpatient medical sector accounts for almost 40 percent of healthcare costs in Ticino. Between 2011 and 2024, the costs incurred in this area rose at an above-average rate in Ticino, namely by 88% compared to the Swiss average of 74%.
Ticino is one of the cantons with the highest healthcare costs. For 2025, the southern canton recorded the most significant increase in premiums at 10.5%.
