Designation of hospitals for complex visceral surgery in Switzerland

In mid-February 2019, the Swiss conference of cantonal healthcare directors (GDK/CDS) has published information about allocation of hospitals for highly complex visceral surgery in the fields of oesophageal, pancreatic and hepatic resections. Partial areas of deep rectal resections and complex bariatric surgery have to be reassessed by this unit. The decision has been brought by the decision-making body for highly specialized medicine (HSM) of the GDK/CDS.

This decision is based on the decision of the same decision-making body of February 2016. Since then, the criteria for awarding benefits had been defined, and an application procedure has been organized. In addition to specific requirements for the services concerned (such as the quality of structures and processes, participation in teaching activities, postgraduate training and research, the obligation to maintain a register, etc.), for all five partial domains, a minimum of twelve procedures per year has been fixed, calculated on an average of three years. 

Seventeen hospitals (out of 26 who applied) were awarded the liver resection procedures. Eight (8) (out of 20) were awarded the esophageal procedures, and eighteen (18) (out of 29) were awarded the pancreatic resection. Regarding deep rectal resections and complex bariatric surgery, the decision-making body has to reassess these applications, since their first opinion was that none of the applicants could perform these surgeries efficiently. The scientific literature has demonstrated that a rise in quality of these procedures exists; thus the criteria were tightened. Also, the aim is to ensure that rectal resection and complex bariatric surgery concentrate on fewer centers in Switzerland.

The mandates are awarded for a period of six years, starting from August 1, 2019. Until then, the previous cantonal service contracts will apply.

See the whole announcement and the list of hospitals (in French or German) that have been awarded the benefit here.

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