Gastroenterology in Switzerland

Gastroenterology is the field of medicine focused on the normal function and diseases of the digestive system or the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, liver, as well as colon and rectum. Doctors who specialize in gastroenterology are called gastroenterologists. They are trained to diagnose and treat conditions of the digestive system. Some of the conditions that these specialists can treat include:

• Ulcers
• Acid reflux
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Polyps or growth that can occur in the large intestine (colon)
• Hepatitis C
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
• Bloody stool
• Hemorrhoids
• Colon and bowel cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Colitis
• Pancreatitis 

While gastroenterologists can treat diseases of the digestive system, they do not perform surgery. If surgery is required they will work with or refer patients to a gastrointestinal surgeon. The following are a range of nonsurgical procedures that gastroenterologists perform:

• Colonoscopy to detect colon polyps and colon cancer
• Endoscopic ultrasound to examine the upper and lower GI tract
• Sigmoidoscopy to assess blood loss or pain in the bowel
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography to identify tumors, gallstones, or scar tissue in the bile duct
• Capsule endoscopy to examine the small intestine
• Liver biopsy to examine fibrosis and inflammation
• Polypectomy to remove a polyp.

How Long Should I Stay in Switzerland?

The type of procedure that you undergo determines your length of stay in Switzerland. Most procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you can leave the hospital or clinic on the same day. However, you generally need to stay in Switzerland for around a week for follow up appointments and to let your body recover before you can travel. If you undergo a diagnostic procedure, your doctor will discuss the results and create a treatment plan during the follow-up appointment.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time for gastroenterology procedures range from a day to 2 weeks, or sometimes longer, depending on the type of procedure. During the recovery period, it is important to avoid any strenuous activities. Your gastroenterologist will let you know the specific time you can resume your normal activities, go back to work, and perform vigorous exercises.

What Aftercare is Required?

It is crucial that you follow all of the instructions closely, to prevent the problem from getting worse or from reoccurring, you may need to make some dietary and lifestyle changes. You may also need to attend follow-up checkups to monitor your condition. You can have the checkups at home with your local doctor, or with your gastroenterologist in Switzerland.

What's the Success Rate?

Advances in gastroenterology have increased the safety and success rate of treatments. The diagnostic procedures offer high accuracy in finding problems within the gastrointestinal tract, and the treatments are found to be highly successful to treat conditions in the digestive system. For example, a colonoscopy now has a 94% success rate in capturing all colorectal cancer. Still, there are some risks to the procedures that you will need to be aware of, such as a tear in the intestine’s lining, excessive bleeding, adverse reaction to the equipment or medication used during the procedure, organ perforation, infection, and incomplete removal (for removal of polyps).

Are there Alternatives?

In most cases, there is no alternative to seeing a gastroenterologist if you experience problems in your digestive system and it is found to be caused by something else that is outside the gastroenterologists’ scope of practice, they will refer you to the relevant specialist.

Gastroenterology in and around Switzerland

About Switzerland

Switzerland is a landlocked country located in Europe and is famous for its chocolate and clocks; this country offers its visitors beautiful landscapes, medieval towns, modern art, avant-garde culture, and Alpine tradition. From the Swiss Alps and the Jura Mountains to Renaissance-era allegorical statues and medieval architecture, Switzerland provides an unforgettable experience for everyone. Today, the country is popular with medical tourists who travel here for top quality elective surgery and dentistry. The healthcare system is world-renowned and beyond impressive, with highly qualified doctors and staff who work in ultra-modern hospitals and clinics. According to the WHO, Switzerland’s public health services system is one of the most effective in the world. A full range of advanced medicine and technology are available here, from heart surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, to oncology. 

Popular Cities and Regions in Switzerland

Most medical tourists travel to Bern, the de facto capital of Switzerland. Here, tourists can walk around the historic town center that is brimming with churches, cobblestone streets, medieval clock towers, and well-preserved sandstone homes. The main attractions in this city are Zentrum Paul Klee and Kunstmuseum. Besides Bern, Zürich is a famous destination for medical tourists. Set on the beautiful Zurich Lake, this city offers many amazing medical centers and tourist attractions. It’s a culturally vibrant city that is recognized as one of the most liveable cities in the world. Tourists are welcome to visit Fraumüster, explore Schweizerisches Landesmuseum, and admire art at Kunsthaus. Along with Bern and Zürich, Geneva is also popular. It has the world’s largest fountain, a historic city center, and spectacular views of Lake Geneva.

Transport in Switzerland

Zurich Airport is the main gateway to Switzerland. It serves regular scheduled and charter flights to and from numerous cities in Europe, North America, and Asia. Public transport in the country is comprehensive. Trains are comfortable and scenic, and buses take over where the rails run out. Taxis and Uber are available to travel inside cities.

Visas in Switzerland

As a part of the Schengen Agreement, Switzerland allows citizens of 62 countries, including Australia and the US, to stay in the country without a visa for up to 90 days. Nationals of most other countries are required to have a Schengen visa to enter the country. 

Weather in Switzerland

Winter (November – March) is cold and snowy, with an average temperature of 5 to 10°C in Zurich. It’s a popular time for tourists who want to ski. Spring (April – June) has warmer weather, although some areas still experience snowfall. Summer (July – August) brings perfect and warm weather, with an average temperature of 27°C. Autumn (September – October) is still warm but the days are becoming shorter.

Additional Info

1. Local Currency: The currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF). 1 CHF is equivalent to 1.04 USD.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs can be found easily and major credit cards (Visa and MasterCard) are widely accepted. Tipping is not necessary. 
3. Local Language: Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Most of the population speaks excellent English, especially those in major cities. 
4. Local Culture and Religion: The predominant religion is Christianity, which has been present in the country since the Roman Era. The country guarantees full freedom of religion, and Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, as well as other religions are practiced by a small portion of the population. 
5. Public Holidays: Switzerland has several public holidays, including New Year’s Day, Berchtold's Day, Corpus Christi, Immaculate Conception Day, and Christmas Day.