Swiss committee backs psychiatrist check before psychotherapy

Switzerland’s National Council Social Security and Health Committee has called for access to psychotherapy covered by basic health insurance to be restricted, SRF reported on Friday. Patients would have to see a psychiatrist before starting treatment.

The committee approved a motion by 16 votes to nine. Under the proposal, psychological psychotherapy would require a diagnosis from a psychiatrist.

The committee said the measure would help reduce healthcare costs and improve access to care for people with severe mental disorders.

In a second motion, approved by 13 votes to nine, the committee called for a database to determine the prevalence of mental illnesses in Switzerland.

The committee said costs for psychological psychotherapy paid by basic health insurance had nearly doubled in 2024 compared with 2022, when the transition to the delegation model took place, reaching almost one billion Swiss francs.

It also said insiders believed that many cases currently involved treating “symptoms without clinical significance”. The committee added that the Federal Council might be overlooking the fact that medical specialist groups not focused on psychiatric diagnoses are currently allowed to prescribe psychological psychotherapy.