Thousands of Swiss Residents Attempt to Preserve a Specialized Counseling Service
In a concerning development, Tox Info Suisse, Switzerland's national poison control centre, is facing a critical funding crisis. The institution, which provides essential 24-hour emergency advice on poisoning emergencies to both the general population and healthcare professionals, has only received about 10% of its funding from the federal government, despite having a statutory federal mandate for poison prevention and advice.
Since its launch in early July, a petition to save the service has garnered over 100,000 signatures, with the number continuing to grow as concerns among Swiss residents mount. Tox Info President Josef Widler has stated that this high number of petition signatures is a "clear" message to the Federal Department of Home Affairs to allocate the necessary funds.
The potential consequences of Tox Info Suisse's closure in 2026 are severe. The institution warns that its disappearance would have "fatal consequences" as parents, especially those with children under five, and affected individuals would lose an essential 24-hour emergency advice service. Medical professionals would also lose access to a critical central resource for poisoning cases.
In 2024 alone, Tox Info provided over 40,000 consultations, with 40 percent of calls concerning children under the age of five. The absence of the service would leave a significant gap in Switzerland’s emergency healthcare and poisoning prevention infrastructure.
Medical professional Irene Hertig expressed that the closure of the service would make it challenging for emergency department specialists to access sufficient, specific information quickly enough in a poison emergency. In such a scenario, individuals who would typically call the 145 number (e.g., worried parents or relatives) would need to visit already-stretched emergency departments.
The petition specifically calls on Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider to provide Tox Info Suisse with CHF 1.1 million in emergency aid by the end of August to prevent its closure. Tox Info President Josef Widler strongly invites the Federal Councillor responsible for the dossier to discuss solutions for the future funding of Tox Info Suisse.
In a show of support, many people have added messages to an online 'wall' set up by the service. One such message comes from Milena, a concerned individual, who wrote that the poison control centre is vital in preventing worse consequences for her nephew who frequently puts poisonous substances in his mouth.
As the petition gathers momentum, it will be submitted after the summer. Tox Info Suisse urgently requires increased federal funding to continue operations beyond 2025, and failure to secure this could jeopardize emergency poisoning advice and support services nationwide.
- The crisis at Tox Info Suisse, a crucial national poison control centre in Switzerland, is alarming due to its significant funding shortage.
- Despite having a federal mandate for poison prevention and advice, Tox Info Suisse has only received about 10% of its funding from the government.
- The institution, which operates 24/7, offers essential advice on poisoning emergencies to both the public and healthcare professionals.
- A petition to save Tox Info Suisse from closure has garnered over 100,000 signatures, with the number still growing.
- President Josef Widler of Tox Info Suisse interprets this high number of signatures as a clear message to the Federal Department of Home Affairs to allocate the necessary funds.
- The potential consequences of Tox Info Suisse's closure in 2026 are severe and dire, according to the institution.
- The absence of Tox Info Suisse would have "fatal consequences" as parents, especially those with young children, and affected individuals would lose an essential 24-hour emergency advice service.
- Medical professionals would also lose access to a critical central resource for poisoning cases.
- In 2024 alone, Tox Info provided over 40,000 consultations, with 40 percent of calls concerning children under the age of five.
- The lack of the service would leave a significant gap in Switzerland’s emergency healthcare and poisoning prevention infrastructure.
- Medical professional Irene Hertig believes that the closure of the service would make it challenging for emergency department specialists to access sufficient, specific information quickly enough in a poison emergency.
- In such a scenario, individuals who would typically call the 145 number (e.g., worried parents or relatives) would need to visit already-stretched emergency departments.
- The petition calls on Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider to provide CHF 1.1 million in emergency aid by the end of August to prevent Tox Info Suisse's closure.
- Tox Info President Josef Widler encourages the Federal Councillor responsible for the dossier to discuss solutions for the future funding of Tox Info Suisse.
- Showing their support, many people have added messages to an online 'wall' set up by the service.
- One such message comes from Milena, a concerned individual, who wrote that the poison control centre is vital in preventing worse consequences for her nephew who frequently puts poisonous substances in his mouth.
- As the petition gathers momentum, it will be submitted after the summer.
- Tox Info Suisse urgently requires increased federal funding to continue operations beyond 2025, and failure to secure this funding could jeopardize emergency poisoning advice and support services nationwide.
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