How to find an English-speaking doctor in Switzerland
Finding a GP who speaks English, what your insurance model allows, and who to call at night, at the weekend or for toothache, with a primary source for every rule and number.
In short
To find an English-speaking doctor in Switzerland, check your health insurance model first, then search by city and language; expat-services.ch lists English-speaking GPs, dentists and therapists, each checked by hand. Register with a family doctor before you fall ill. In a life-threatening emergency call 144; for urgent problems out of hours, call your canton’s medical helpline.
How do I find a family doctor (GP) who takes new patients?
Start before you are ill. Shortlist practices near you in our directory or on the FMH’s doctor list at doctorfmh.ch, then call or email them and ask three things: are you taking new patients, does the doctor consult in English, and do you work with my insurance model? If a practice is full, ask about its waiting list.
Swiss healthcare works on the principle that you contact your family doctor first, and finding one is up to you. The canton of Basel-Stadt advises looking early and registering with a practice before you need it (Basel-Stadt, checked ).
Where to look
- Our directory: GPs and family doctors who consult in English, by city. The last section of this guide has direct links.
- doctorfmh.ch: the FMH, the Swiss doctors’ professional association, publishes this free list of doctors to help you find a GP or specialist near you (migesplus, checked ).
- OneDoc: a booking platform where you can find a doctor, dentist or therapist and book online, free for patients (OneDoc, checked ). It only shows practices that use it.
- Cantonal pointers: the canton of Zug, for example, refers you to the Zug GP society’s search page (Canton of Zug, checked ), and Basel-Stadt to its cantonal medical society (Basel-Stadt, checked ).
Check a doctor in MedReg
MedReg, the federal register of medical professions, is public. It shows a doctor’s or dentist’s qualifications, cantonal licence to practise, work address and recorded language skills (FOPH, checked ). A language is entered only once the doctor has shown at least B2 level in it, for example through training in that language, so an English entry is a useful sign; a missing one proves nothing (FOPH, checked ). Search it at healthreg-public.admin.ch (opens in a new tab).
What to ask the practice
- Are you taking new patients? If not, is there a waiting list?
- Does the doctor consult in English?
- Do you work with my insurance model? Practice models can tie you to specific providers (FOPH, checked ).
- How do you bill? Doctors often send the bill to you, and you claim it back from your insurer (FOPH, checked ).
Before you need a doctor
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English-speaking GPs and family doctors
Praxis Dr. med. Eichler
GPs & family doctors · ZugFamily doctor practice for general internal medicine close to Zug railway station; English website and Norwegian also spoken.
Listed from public information. The business hasn’t checked it yet.
Is this your business?The Lausanne Medical Practice
GPs & family doctors · PullyEnglish-speaking family doctor practice in Pully near Lausanne for adults, covering check-ups, vaccinations, blood tests and ECG; basic, private and international insurance accepted.
Listed from public information. The business hasn’t checked it yet.
Is this your business?How does my insurance model affect which doctor I can see?
In the standard model you can see any authorised doctor directly. In a family doctor, HMO or telemedicine model your premium can be lower, but you agree to contact a set first point of contact before anyone else, except in an emergency. Before you choose an English-speaking GP, check that your model allows that practice.
Basic insurance lets you choose any authorised provider suited to your condition, unless you picked a model with a restricted choice (FOPH, checked ). Those models trade choice for price: you agree to consult a designated first point of contact, and insurers may lower the premium in return (FOPH, checked ).
The rules are binding. In a family doctor model you must almost always see your family doctor first (ch.ch, checked ), and that doctor decides whether to refer you to a specialist or hospital; you give up free choice except in an emergency (FOPH guide, checked ). The insurer then only has to pay for care provided or arranged by the providers you agreed to (KVG Art. 41, checked ).
What this means for finding an English-speaking doctor
- Standard model: you can pick any English-speaking GP or specialist, but you get no model discount (FOPH, checked ) (FOPH, checked ).
- Practice models (PRAXIS): your first contact is a designated practice, such as a GP or medical centre (FOPH, checked ). Find an English-speaking practice your insurer accepts before you sign up.
- Telephone or app models (TEL_DIG): your first contact is a telemedicine centre or an app (FOPH, checked ). Ask your insurer whether it offers advice in English.
- Pharmacy (PHARM) and flexible (FLEX) models: a partner pharmacy, or a choice of several first contacts (FOPH, checked ).
Models and their exceptions differ by insurer, so read your policy conditions (FOPH, checked ). You can move from the standard model to a restricted model with the same insurer at any time (FOPH guide, checked ). Weighing the models: how to choose a Swiss health insurer; how the system works: Swiss health insurance for expats.
Insurance models and your choice of doctor
| Model | First contact | Seeing a specialist |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Any authorised doctor | You can book directly |
| PRAXIS (family doctor, HMO) | A designated practice | The practice refers you if needed |
| TEL_DIG (telemedicine) | A telemedicine centre or app | After that first contact, under the model’s rules |
| PHARM | A partner pharmacy | Under the model’s rules |
| FLEX | One of several first contacts | Under the model’s rules |
Model categories as the FOPH uses them from the 2027 premiums. Emergencies are exempt from the first-contact rule.
Where can I see a doctor at the weekend or in an emergency?
If a life is at risk, call 144 for an ambulance or 112, the European emergency number. For urgent problems that are not life-threatening, call your GP first; out of hours, call your canton’s medical helpline, which tells you where to go. Walk-in practices and pharmacies help with smaller problems.
Life-threatening emergencies
- 144 for an ambulance (ch.ch, checked ).
- 112, the European emergency number, puts you through to the police emergency centre and works with a foreign SIM card or a prepaid card with no credit (ch.ch, checked ).
- 1414 for Rega air rescue, or +41 333 333 333 from abroad (Rega, checked ).
- 145 for poisoning, answered by Tox Info Suisse around the clock (Tox Info Suisse, checked ).
Your model’s first-contact rule does not apply in an emergency (FOPH guide, checked ). Basic insurance pays half the cost of a medically necessary ambulance transport, up to CHF 500 a year, and half the cost of a rescue when your life is at risk, up to CHF 5,000 a year in Switzerland (FOPH guide, checked ).
Urgent, but not life-threatening
Call your GP first. When the practice is closed, its answering machine may tell you which doctor is on duty; the canton of Zug describes it that way (Canton of Zug, checked ). Without a GP, or when yours cannot be reached, call your canton’s medical line. The table lists the lines we checked on official websites for Zurich (Canton of Zurich, checked ), Geneva (Canton of Geneva, checked ), Vaud (Canton of Vaud, checked ) (Canton of Vaud, checked ), Basel-Stadt (Basel-Stadt, checked ) and Zug (Canton of Zug, checked ); for other cantons, check your canton’s health pages.
Walk-in practices (Permanence, walk-in or centre médical) are another option: Basel-Stadt describes them as open 365 days a year with long opening hours, with or without an appointment (Basel-Stadt, checked ). Hospital emergency departments treat patients in order of urgency, so a minor problem can mean a long wait (Basel-Stadt, checked ). Pharmacies advise on minor complaints and medicines and can tell you whether you need a doctor (Basel-Stadt, checked ) (Canton of Zug, checked ).
In a family doctor or telemedicine model, follow the model’s rules for a walk-in visit that is not an emergency; usually that means calling your first point of contact (ch.ch, checked ). Find clinics and walk-in centres in our directory.
For a mental health crisis, 143 (Die Dargebotene Hand, the ‘Helping Hand’) answers adults and 147 (Pro Juventute) answers children and young people, both around the clock (Canton of Zug, checked ) (ch.ch, checked ).
-
Ambulance
144
for an ambulance when someone’s life is at risk.
Source ch.ch (opens in a new tab) ↗
-
European emergency number
112
connects to the police; works with a foreign SIM.
Source ch.ch (opens in a new tab) ↗
-
Air rescue
1414
for Rega; +41 333 333 333 from abroad.
Source Rega (opens in a new tab) ↗
-
Poisoning
145
Tox Info Suisse, around the clock.
Cantonal medical lines for urgent problems that are not life-threatening
| Canton | Line | Number | Cost and hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zurich | AERZTEFON | 0800 33 66 55 | Free, around the clock |
| Geneva | Centrale Santé Genève | 0800 116 117 | Free, around the clock |
| Vaud | Centrale téléphonique des médecins de garde | 0848 133 133 | Local rate, around the clock |
| Basel-Stadt | Medizinische Notrufzentrale | 061 261 15 15 | Free advice, around the clock |
| Zug | Ärztlicher Notfalldienst | 0900 008 008 | CHF 3.23 a minute, around the clock |
Checked on 15 October 2026 on the cantonal websites (Geneva: the canton’s release on the HUG website). If a life is at risk, call 144.
What should I do if I need an emergency dentist?
Call your own dentist first. If the practice is closed, call your canton’s dental emergency service: in Zurich through AERZTEFON on 0800 33 66 55, in Vaud on 0848 133 133 and in Zug on 0844 22 40 44. Expect to pay yourself: basic insurance covers dental treatment only in narrow cases.
Dental emergency services are organised by canton. In Zurich, AERZTEFON also connects you to dentists and pharmacies (Canton of Zurich, checked ). In Vaud, the on-call doctors’ line directs you to the on-call dentist in your region (Canton of Vaud, checked ). In Zug, the dental emergency service answers in the evening, at weekends and on public holidays (Canton of Zug, checked ).
Who pays
Basic insurance covers dental treatment only if it is needed because of a serious disorder of the chewing system, to support treatment of a severe general illness, or after an accident when no other insurance pays (FOPH guide, checked ). Check-ups, fillings and other routine care are paid by you or by a supplementary dental policy. After an accident, tell the insurer that covers your accidents straight away.
Ask for a cost estimate before any treatment that can wait. Better still, find an English-speaking dentist before you need one: see dentists in our directory.
English-speaking dentists
Adent Dental Clinics
Dentists · GenèveGroup of dental clinics in French- and German-speaking Switzerland, with five sites in Geneva; teams speak 17 languages incl. English. Routine, children's and emergency dental care.
Listed from public information. The business hasn’t checked it yet.
Is this your business?Swiss Smile
Dentists · ZürichDental clinic chain founded in Zurich with several city-centre locations, many open 365 days with long hours; general, cosmetic and emergency dentistry under one roof.
Listed from public information. The business hasn’t checked it yet.
Is this your business?zahnarztzentrum.ch
Dentists · ZürichNetwork of more than 40 dental centres across Switzerland, several in Zurich, Basel, Bern and Zug, with extended opening hours incl. Saturdays; part of the Medbase group.
Listed from public information. The business hasn’t checked it yet.
Is this your business?Do I need a referral to see a specialist?
It depends on your insurance model. In the standard model you can book a specialist directly. In a family doctor or HMO model the practice decides whether to refer you; in a telemedicine model you call first. Skip that step and the insurer may refuse to pay, so check your policy’s exceptions.
In the standard model you may choose any authorised provider suited to your condition, specialists included (FOPH, checked ). In a restricted model, the insurer only has to pay for care provided or arranged by the providers you agreed to (KVG Art. 41, checked ).
- Family doctor or HMO model (PRAXIS): the practice treats you and refers you to a specialist if needed (FOPH, checked ) (FOPH guide, checked ).
- Telemedicine model (TEL_DIG): your first contact is by phone or app (FOPH, checked ).
- Emergencies are exempt from these rules (FOPH guide, checked ).
Exceptions differ by insurer, so read your policy conditions before you book (FOPH, checked ). Before any treatment, your doctor must tell you if basic insurance will not pay for it (ch.ch, checked ).
Therapists and psychologists
Since 1 July 2022, psychological psychotherapists can bill basic insurance themselves, as long as a doctor prescribes the therapy (FOPH, checked ). GPs with a specialist title in general internal medicine, paediatricians and psychiatrists can prescribe it. One prescription covers up to 15 sessions, and after 30 sessions in total the insurer must approve any further therapy (FOPH, checked ).
Find English-speaking therapists and psychologists in our directory, and ask whether they bill basic insurance.
English-speaking therapists and psychologists
Expat Psychologist Switzerland
Therapists & psychologists · ZürichGroup psychology practice for the international community since 2009, with rooms in Zurich, Zug and Geneva plus online sessions; therapy for individuals and couples in several languages.
Listed from public information. The business hasn’t checked it yet.
Is this your business?International Counselling
Therapists & psychologists · ZürichZurich group practice offering psychotherapy and counselling in English, in person or online, led by a licensed clinical psychologist; includes short free intro calls.
Listed from public information. The business hasn’t checked it yet.
Is this your business?Praxis Papak
Therapists & psychologists · BaselCounselling practice near Aeschenplatz in Basel offering psychological and psychosocial counselling sessions in English and German, including body-centred and stress-relief methods.
Listed from public information. The business hasn’t checked it yet.
Is this your business?Where can I find English-speaking doctors on expat-services.ch?
Our directory lists English-speaking practices by service and city. Start with doctors and dentists, then narrow down to GPs, dentists, walk-in clinics or therapists, or open a city page filtered to English. Each listing is checked by hand, but always confirm with the practice that it takes new patients.
- Doctors and dentists: every medical listing.
- GPs and family doctors for your first point of contact.
- Dentists, including for check-ups before anything hurts.
- Clinics and walk-in centres for urgent care without an appointment.
- Therapists and psychologists for mental health support.
English-speaking doctors and dentists by city
Insurance comes first: if you are new to the system, read Swiss health insurance for expats before you pick a model and a doctor.
Clinics and walk-in centres
Hôpital de La Tour
Clinics & walk-in centres · MeyrinPrivate hospital in Meyrin (Geneva) with an emergency department open around the clock for adults and daytime/evening hours for children; bilingual English/French website.
Listed from public information. The business hasn’t checked it yet.
Is this your business?Medbase Permanence Zurich Main Station
Clinics & walk-in centres · ZürichWalk-in medical practice at Zurich main station, open daily incl. public holidays; no appointment needed for urgent illness or minor accidents. Part of the Medbase group.
Listed from public information. The business hasn’t checked it yet.
Is this your business?Medbase Toujours Basel Bahnhof
Clinics & walk-in centres · BaselWalk-in practice next to Basel SBB station, open 365 days; general internal medicine for acute illness and minor accidents without an appointment. Part of the Medbase group.
Listed from public information. The business hasn’t checked it yet.
Is this your business?What else do expats ask about finding a doctor in Switzerland?
Do doctors in Switzerland speak English?
There is no rule that they must. A doctor has to master the language they work in, at least at B2 level, and can have further languages recorded in the public MedReg register. Ask the practice, or start from a city page in our directory filtered to English.
Who do I call for a doctor at night?
Call 144 if a life is at risk. Otherwise try your GP’s number for the doctor on duty, or your canton’s medical line, for example 0800 33 66 55 in Zurich, 0800 116 117 in Geneva or 0848 133 133 in Vaud.
Can I go straight to a hospital emergency department?
In a real emergency, yes, whatever your insurance model. For minor problems expect a long wait, because emergency departments treat patients in order of urgency. Your GP, a walk-in practice or your canton’s medical line may get you seen sooner.
Do I pay the doctor myself?
Often, yes. Doctors commonly send the bill to you; you pay it and claim the costs back from your insurer, minus your deductible and co-payment. Hospitals and pharmacies usually bill the insurer directly.
Can I switch to an English-speaking GP in a family doctor model?
Only to a practice your insurer accepts for your model, so ask the insurer for its list first. In the standard model you can change doctor whenever you like.
Does basic insurance pay for an emergency dentist?
Usually not. It covers dental treatment only for serious disorders of the chewing system, as part of treating a severe general illness, or after an accident when no other insurance pays. Otherwise you pay yourself or through supplementary dental insurance.
Is therapy with a psychologist covered?
Yes, by basic insurance, if a doctor prescribes it, typically your GP, a paediatrician or a psychiatrist. One prescription covers up to 15 sessions, and after 30 sessions the insurer must approve further therapy.
Sources
Last checked by the expat-services.ch editorial team
- Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH/BAG) Health insurance: key points in brief (free choice of authorised providers, who sends the bill) (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH/BAG) Health insurance: insurance models with a restricted choice of service providers (first point of contact, PRAXIS, TEL_DIG, PHARM, FLEX) (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH/BAG) The compulsory health insurance system: guide, legal position at 1 January 2026 (GP and HMO models, emergencies, transport and rescue, dental treatment, switching into a model) (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Fedlex, SR 832.10 Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG/LAMal), Art. 41: choice of provider; restricted choice in agreement with the insurer (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- ch.ch Health insurance benefits (rules of the family doctor model, doctors must say when insurance will not pay) (opens in a new tab)
- ch.ch Emergencies and danger: emergency numbers in Switzerland (112, 144, 145, 143, 147) (opens in a new tab)
- Rega, Swiss Air-Rescue Rega emergency number 1414 (from abroad +41 333 333 333) (opens in a new tab)
- Tox Info Suisse Emergency number 145 for poisoning, 24/7 (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH/BAG) MedReg register of medical professions: public data, including licences and language skills (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH/BAG) Medical professions: reporting language skills (B2 requirement for a MedReg language entry; in German) (opens in a new tab)
- migesplus.ch (Swiss Red Cross) doctorfmh.ch: the FMH’s official list of doctors in Switzerland, free to use (opens in a new tab)
- OneDoc Find a doctor, dentist or therapist and book online (free for patients) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Basel-Stadt Where do I go when I am ill? (GP first, permanences, emergency departments, pharmacies, Medizinische Notrufzentrale; in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich Emergencies and rescue: AERZTEFON 0800 33 66 55, including the dental emergency service (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Geneva, Department of Health and Mobility, on the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) website Media release of 18 June 2026: Centrale Santé Genève, free 24/7 number 0800 116 117 (in French) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Vaud Emergencies: on-call doctors’ line 0848 133 133, local rate (in French) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Vaud Media release of 4 November 2025: the on-call doctors’ line answers 24/7 (in French) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Vaud Doctors and dentists: on-call dentist through 0848 133 133 (in French) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zug What to do in an emergency: medical emergency service 0900 008 008, dental emergency service 0844 22 40 44, 143 and 147 (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH/BAG) New rules for psychological psychotherapy from 1 July 2022 (prescription, 15 sessions, approval after 30; in German) (opens in a new tab)