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Children's health in Zurich

Swiss medicine resembles French medicine in its quality and its directly accessible community paediatrician, but not in its funding: everyone pays their own insurance, children included, and a deductible before any reimbursement. Here is how it works, with verified addresses and leads for consulting in French.

Verified on 30 October 2026

How health insurance works

A compulsory insurance system run by private insurers and framed by federal law: the same basic benefits everywhere, free choice of insurer, a monthly premium per head and cost-sharing.

Good to know

  • Everyone living in Switzerland must take out insurance within three months of arrival, children included; cover is individual, there is no family policy, and the insurer cannot refuse anyone or impose exclusions or waiting periods. Source
  • All insurers offer exactly the same basic benefits, only the premiums differ; the standard model leaves you free to choose your doctor, the cheaper models require a first point of contact (family practice, telemedicine, pharmacy) before a specialist. Source
  • You first pay the annual deductible you have chosen, then a 10% co-payment on costs up to a yearly cap, plus a daily hospital contribution; a higher deductible means a lower premium. Source
  • Households on modest incomes can apply to their municipality for a premium reduction; switching insurer is done at the end of the year, once the new premiums are published. Source
  • Supplementary insurance (private room, alternative medicine, glasses, children's dental care) is optional and insurers can refuse it: take it out on arrival, while the whole family is in good health.

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Choosing a paediatrician and baby check-ups

No administrative registration: you freely choose a paediatrician (Kinderarzt) or a family doctor, unless your insurance model requires a first point of contact. The challenge is finding a practice that takes new patients.

Good to know

  • Swiss paediatricians follow children from birth to the end of adolescence with regular preventive check-ups, recorded in the pédiatrie suisse health booklet given at birth; for a child who arrives, your French carnet counts, ask the paediatrician to copy across the vaccines. Source
  • The Swiss health booklet exists in French and the vaccination record is on its front page; you can download it to find your way around. Source
  • To find a paediatrician, use the Kinderärzte Schweiz members' directory (by name or postcode), the official FMH doctors' directory or the booking platforms that show languages spoken; call several practices, waiting lists are real. Source
  • The city offers free counselling to expectant parents and parents of children up to 5 (feeding, sleep, development): by phone, by email, in the neighbourhoods or at home, in several languages or with an interpreter. Source
  • Bring the child's health insurance card to every consultation: it carries their AVS number and allows billing. Depending on the insurer, you receive the invoice and forward it for reimbursement, or the doctor bills the insurer directly.
  • The dentist is not covered by basic insurance, except for accidents or serious illness: supplementary dental cover for children is taken out early, before the first adult teeth.

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Emergencies and children's hospitals

Two numbers and one reflex: 144 for life-threatening emergencies, the Ärztefon for everything else, day and night. The Kinderspital, the university children's hospital, has occupied a new building in Lengg since 2024, with round-the-clock emergencies and an urgent care practice for minor cases.

Good to know

  • 144 is the ambulance number for any life-threatening emergency; 117 the police, 118 the fire brigade, 145 Tox Info Suisse for poisoning, 147 the Pro Juventute helpline for children and teenagers. Source
  • For a problem that is not life-threatening, the Canton of Zurich's Ärztefon (0800 33 66 55) gives free advice 24/7 and directs you to an on-call doctor, paediatrician, dentist or pharmacy; the same number covers dental emergencies. Source
  • The Kinderspital's Medgate Kids Line answers parents' medical questions 24/7, billed through health insurance; the Kinderspital app lets you pre-register the child before arriving at A&E. Source
  • At A&E, a triage nurse assesses each child on arrival and the order follows severity, not arrival time: expect to wait for a minor case and report any worsening. Bring the insurance card, the health booklet with vaccines, medicines and the latest reports. Source
  • For fevers, stomach bugs, rashes and minor injuries, the Kinderspital's Notfallpraxis (weekdays noon to 23:00, weekends and public holidays from 9:00) and the walk-in paediatric practices avoid the long A&E wait. Source

Addresses

  • Kinderspital Zürich, urgences pédiatriques

    Emergency

    Lenggstrasse 30, 8008 Zürich

    The university children's hospital, in its new Lengg building: A&E 24/7, 365 days a year, from birth to 18, paediatric surgery on site; welcome videos and care guides in French.

    Website Source

  • Notfallpraxis im Kinderspital Zürich

    Emergency

    Lenggstrasse 30, 8008 Zürich

    The Kinderspital's urgent care practice for minor cases aged 0 to 18: fever, stomach bug without dehydration, tummy ache, rashes, small wounds, simple fractures. Monday to Friday 12:00 to 23:00, weekends and public holidays 9:00 to 23:00, entry through A&E, no appointment.

    Website Source

  • Kinderpermanence Circle, aéroport de Zurich

    Emergency

    The Circle, Zürich-Flughafen, 8058 Zürich

    The Kinderspital's practice in the airport's The Circle complex: sick or injured children up to 16, daily 8:00 to 22:45, preferably by phone appointment; train or tram to Zürich Flughafen, then the Südplatz entrance.

    Website Source

  • Stadtspital Zürich Triemli, Kindernotfall

    Emergency

    Birmensdorferstrasse 497, 8063 Zürich

    The city hospital's children's emergency department, at the foot of the Uetliberg: 24/7 all year, from birth to 16, in the Kinderklinik (building 3); gynaecological emergencies and delivery ward on the same site.

    Website Source

  • Spital Zollikerberg, Kinder-Permanence

    Emergency

    Trichtenhauserstrasse 20, 8125 Zollikerberg

    The right shore's walk-in paediatric practice, 365 days a year: weekdays 12:00 to 20:00, weekends and public holidays 10:00 to 20:00, up to the 16th birthday; also check-ups, vaccines and specialist clinics.

    Website Source

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French-speaking doctors, dentists and therapists

The French consulate general in Zurich publishes no list of French-speaking doctors: its list of recognised professionals covers only lawyers and translators. The lepetitjournal.com Zurich directory has only one health entry so far, and Zürich Accueil does not make its address book public. To consult in French, you therefore search by language in the official directories, or ask around: the Zürich Accueil WhatsApp community and the French lycée parents know.

Good to know

  • The official Swiss doctors' directory (doctorfmh.ch, run by the FMH) lets you filter by specialty, location and language spoken: it is the most reliable source to find a paediatrician, GP or gynaecologist who consults in French in Zurich. Source
  • Online booking platforms show each practice's languages and available slots; many Zurich paediatricians consult in German and English, a fair number in French, especially around the lake and in the eastern districts. Source
  • French-speaking psychologists and psychotherapists are the most sought after by expatriate families; with no public list, the lepetitjournal.com directory, where professionals list themselves, and Zürich Accueil's recommendations remain the best entry points. Source
  • The Kinderspital welcomes families with orientation videos in seven languages including French, and several of its care guides exist in French. Source

Addresses

  • Dr Philippe Jacquet

    Psychologist

    Consultations en visioconférence (cabinet à Londres)

    Psychotherapist specialising in addictions and trauma (EMDR, Jungian analysis, art therapy), sees French speakers from Zurich and Zug remotely; the only health entry in the lepetitjournal.com Zurich directory.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Website Source

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Pregnancy and maternity units

Pregnancy is followed by a community gynaecologist or a midwife, and you freely choose your maternity unit: university hospital, city hospital, Zollikerberg hospital, private clinic or birth centre. Maternity leave is short, and so is the other parent's leave.

Good to know

  • Antenatal care, the birth and a stay in a shared room are covered by basic insurance, in any hospital in the canton; a private room and free choice of hospital doctor come under supplementary cover, to be taken out before the pregnancy. Source
  • The federal maternity allowance runs from the day of birth and ends at the latest 14 weeks, or 98 days, later; it covers 80% of average pre-birth income, capped, provided you were insured under AVS for nine months and worked five months before the birth. Going back to work early ends it. Source
  • The other parent gets two weeks of leave paid under the same scheme, to be taken within six months of the birth. Source
  • Register early with your chosen maternity unit and attend an information evening with a tour of the delivery ward; several hospitals offer them in English, and a water birth is simply requested at registration. Source

Addresses

  • Universitätsspital Zürich, Klinik für Geburtshilfe

    Maternity

    Frauenklinikstrasse 10, 8091 Zürich

    The university hospital's maternity unit, one of the largest in Switzerland, in the city centre: natural birth favoured, water birth, midwife-led birth, courses and information evenings for expectant parents.

    Website Source

  • Stadtspital Zürich Triemli, maternité

    Maternity

    Birmensdorferstrasse 497, 8063 Zürich

    The city hospital's maternity unit, at the foot of the Uetliberg: delivery ward reachable 24/7, gynaecological emergencies for early pregnancy and children's A&E on the same site.

    Website Source

  • Spital Zollikerberg, Geburtshilfe

    Maternity

    Trichtenhauserstrasse 20, 8125 Zollikerberg

    One of Switzerland's most popular maternity units, on the hill above Zollikon: water birth, midwives, obstetricians and neonatologists on site 24/7, family rooms, a birth centre on the same campus, information evenings in English.

    Website Source

  • Klinik Hirslanden, Geburtenabteilung

    Maternity

    Witellikerstrasse 40, 8032 Zürich

    The private clinic on the Zürichberg, among the most experienced in the region: single room for privately and semi-privately insured mothers, double room with basic insurance, partner and siblings welcome, 'Erlebnis Geburt' evenings and tours with the midwives.

    Website Source

  • Geburtshaus Delphys

    Maternity

    Badenerstrasse 177, 8003 Zürich

    The city's birth centre, run by midwives since 1989: one-to-one care, birth in a homely atmosphere, preparation courses, breastfeeding and postnatal consultations; recognised by health insurers.

    Website Source

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Pharmacies and medicines

Pharmacies are plentiful and the pharmacist is happy to advise; only one truly stays open all night, at Bellevue. The names reassure French families: Dafalgan exists, Algifor replaces Advil, and prices are higher.

Good to know

  • The Bellevue Apotheke is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with a night surcharge; otherwise, the pharmacy line (0900 55 35 55, charged) or the Ärztefon tell you the nearest on-duty pharmacy. Source
  • Equivalents: paracetamol as Dafalgan (syrup and suppositories for children) or Ben-u-ron, ibuprofen as Algifor, saline solution as NaCl ampoules; many products are behind the counter, ask for them, and generics are cheaper.
  • Prescribed medicines are covered by basic insurance after the deductible and co-payment, if they are on the specialities list; over-the-counter medicines remain at your expense. Source
  • A French prescription is not automatically honoured: the pharmacist may accept it for a common treatment, at their discretion, but the simplest is to have the treatment renewed by your Swiss paediatrician or doctor, especially for long-term medication.

Addresses

  • Bellevue Apotheke

    Pharmacy

    Theaterstrasse 14, 8001 Zürich

    Zurich's historic on-duty pharmacy at Bellevue, open day and night all year: minor emergencies, wound care, vaccinations and travel advice.

    Website Source

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Vaccines: how the schedule differs from France

No vaccine is compulsory in Switzerland, but the federal vaccination schedule recommends almost the same ones as France, at different ages: the 6-in-1 in three doses at 2, 4 and 12 months, MMR and chickenpox from 9 months. The paediatrician vaccinates, basic insurance pays.

Good to know

  • There is no compulsory vaccination in Switzerland, neither for nursery nor for school: the authorities chose the principle of self-determination and issue recommendations. In France, eleven vaccinations are compulsory for young children. Source
  • Baby: 6-in-1 (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib, hepatitis B) and pneumococcal in three doses at 2, 4 and 12 months, close to the French rhythm (2, 4 and 11 months); measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox in a single vaccine (MMRV) at 9 and 12 months, where France vaccinates at 12 and 16-18 months, without chickenpox. Source
  • Rotavirus (oral vaccine at 2 and 4 months), meningococcal B (at 2-3, 4-5 and 12-18 months) and meningococcal ACWY (at 12-18 months) are recommended as complementary vaccines for all infants; the schedule normally has nothing between 19 months and 3 years. Source
  • The recommended basic and complementary vaccines are covered by compulsory insurance, after deductible and co-payment; the paediatrician vaccinates, and the pharmacist can advise too. Source
  • The 2026 schedule provides RSV immunisation for newborns, through maternal vaccination during pregnancy or monoclonal antibodies depending on the month of birth; HPV is recommended for girls and boys from age 11. Source
  • Bring the French health record to the paediatrician: they copy across the doses received and adapt the catch-up. The Swiss vaccination record is on the front page of the health booklet, and a QR code links to the FOPH schedule updated every year. Source

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These landmarks do not replace the advice of a health professional. In an emergency, call the local emergency number shown above.

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Zurich will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 OFSP, obligation de s'assurer
  2. 2 OFSP, l'assurance de base expliquée (Priminfo)
  3. 3 Kinderspital Zürich, urgences
  4. 4 Canton de Zurich, numéros d'urgence
  5. 5 Consulat général de France en Suisse, liste de notoriété (avocats et traducteurs)
  6. 6 AVS, allocation de maternité
  7. 7 OFSP, plan de vaccination suisse 2026
  8. 8 lepetitjournal.com Zurich, annuaire expat

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