Europe’s Health Hotspot: The Best Clinics In Switzerland
By
3 weeks ago
Switzerland has gained an international reputation for its health and wellness treatments and expertise
If you want best-in-class health and wellness destinations, look no further than the clinics of Switzerland. You’ll find your longevity superstar in no time.
Click Here To Plan Your Swiss Health Travels
Inside Switzerland’s Wellness Scene
Switzerland has always triumphed as the go-to country for health. In 1853, German doctor Alexander Spengler put this Alpine paradise on the medical map, when he arrived in Davos. He was immediately struck by the healing abilities of the clean, mountain air. Word soon spread. By 1865, Davos had become Europe’s most important and largest pulmonary health resort. Spa resorts with healing thermal waters swiftly followed. International visitors flocked to the country. Some resorts are still going strong, including Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, founded in 1868, which combines the latest therapies in preventive and complementary medicine.
Today, Switzerland continues to flourish as a medical hotspot with renowned specialists and cutting-edge medical facilities offering groundbreaking treatments. Couple that with the country’s excellent safety and security record, spectacular scenery and first-class service. It’s no surprise that the Swiss healthcare system was recently awarded gold in the prestigious EHCI (Euro Health Consumer Index), which compares the healthcare systems of 36 European countries.
These exceptional health and wellbeing offerings have catapulted Switzerland into a powerhouse of longevity. Switzerland has one of the highest life expectancies. People across the planet want to follow in their footsteps. Not just living longer but thriving and on track to leading a long and healthy life. Switzerland takes the crown as the ideal place for people wanting to take a serious look at their health on all levels.
Switzerland’s hospitals are considered the best in Europe. University Hospital Zurich has the broadest range of medical services. Alternatively, the long-standing clinic Privatklinik Bethanien, part of the Swiss Medical Network, is a five-minute walk away, with superb medical care, a highly skilled interdisciplinary team and complete discretion. Switzerland also excels in its specialist health clinics, which offer medical procedures from hip replacements to rhinoplasty to the most advanced cancer treatments. The elegant Vista Eye Clinic, Pfäffikon ZH, overlooking Lake Zurich, is the first place for eye health, tackling cataract surgery, glaucoma, orthoptic treatments for children and everything in between.
Mental health is very much a focus of Switzerland’s clinics. Private psychiatric clinic Privatklinik MENTALVA, amid the Swiss Alps, offers psychotherapy and complementary medicine for depression, anxiety, personality disorders and more. Also in the Alps is Clinic Les Alpes, near Montreux, with its tailor-made recovery plans for the treatment of addiction, trauma and other mental health issues. The Kusnacht Practice in Zurich takes a scientific approach, integrating internal medicine, psychiatric intervention and longevity treatments, using rigorous laboratory testing to design ‘your new life’.
To ensure lasting change, Switzerland is home to excellent rehabilitation clinics. At Clinic Bad Ragaz, rehabilitation is treated like an art form, carefully combining the very highest standards of evidence-based medical expertise in the world with outstanding five-star hotel facilities. There’s also Rehaklinik Dussnang which specialises in musculoskeletal and geriatric rehabilitation, working with the latest medical insights and cutting-edge technology
Switzerland is one of the most innovative countries in the world. Its medical team is no different, pioneering new medical techniques, spearheading research and introducing some of the most advanced medical care internationally. This is boosted by the doctors working closely with universities, research institutes and major pharmaceutical companies. Indeed, two of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, Roche and Novartis, are based in Switzerland. This provides the perfect blend of scientific knowledge and practical expertise. The super impressive medical infrastructure also means minimal waiting time to see doctors. It’s no wonder that Switzerland has the highest survival rate in the world for cancer patients
State-of-the-art hardware and software are used to create patients’ personalised treatment plans. This continues into aftercare, with telemedicine allowing medical data to be shared remotely. And the tech continually evolves thanks to the strong financial position of the Swiss healthcare system. An excellent example of a tech-focused approach is Rehaklinik Zihlschlacht, which uses robotics to treat stroke and brain injuries, plus diseases such as Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis. Clinique Générale-Beaulieu in Geneva also impresses with its robot-assisted Laparoscopic Surgery Centre featuring Da Vinci’s robotic system, one of the world’s leading technological advancements.
Switzerland’s healing natural beauty adds to the country’s excellent medical care. Thanks to its boutique size, it’s quick to travel to and from both the clinics and the sensational sights. The life-giving sparkle of the mountains is glorious, from the glistening Matterhorn to the Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest railway station, surrounded by an Alpine wonderland of ice, snow and rocks. Then there’s the Glacier Express, Switzerland’s most luxurious (and spectacular) train journey, with breathtaking views of the rolling landscape. Alternatively, head to roaring Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest waterfall, and take in the extraordinary view. Or stick to one of Switzerland’s many elegant cities, such as Lucerne, with its cobalt lake, charming plazas and painted buildings.
Luxury hotels are another way to reset and recharge. There is the urban retreat Dolder Grand with its standout 4,000 square-metres medi-spa. Just around the corner is Storchen Zürich, a centuries-old grande dame on the River Limmat, offering traditional hospitality, contemporary bedrooms and a Michelin-starred restaurant. In St Moritz, Carlton Hotel, perched high above a lake with palatial architecture, opulent interiors and spacious spa, is the ultimate escape – as is another mountain hideaway LeCrans Hotel & Spa, in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, with beautiful views over the slopes.
From hospitals to clinics to luxury hotels with serious spas, Switzerland offers an all-around package for long-lasting health. The country’s extraordinary level of medical offerings now means visitors can significantly improve their physical health, mental acuity and emotional fulfilment long into their later life.
Switzerland’s Top Health Clinics
Whatever your diagnosis, there is a place for you…
To find out more about health travel in Switzerland, visit myswitzerland.com
Featured image: Getty Images