SWITZERLAND Information Sheet

© International Affiliate of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2020

Credentialing Verification Authorities: Red Cross (SRK) is responsible for verifying credentials obtained overseas. This is a two-part process consisting of a pre-check and verification phase. Applicants wanting to apply to have their credentials recognized must speak one of the following official languages: German, French or Italian to B2 level according to the European Reference for Languages (GER). Additional information is available at www.redcross.ch/anerkennung

Official Language(s): German, French, Italian, Romansch

Ongoing Nutrition Activities in Switzerland

1. National Dietetic Association SVDE ASDD The Swiss Association of Registered Dietitians (SVDE Swiss Association of ASDD) is the professional organization for dietitians in Registered Dietitians Switzerland and represents the interests of its members at national level. Dietitians are required to undertake http://www.svde-asdd.ch/ continuous professional development. It develops binding Quality Assurance guidelines and ethical principles for the profession. One of the main goals is to promote the professional development of dietitians. The association offers regular courses for its members. A minimum of 40 hours professional development training must be completed each year.

Being a member of the SVDD ASDD helps to differentiate dietitians from other providers of nutrition information. Only dietitians who have the recognized training or an equivalent foreign training may become members of the SVDD ASDD. The association works closely together with the educational institutions to ensure that training is of sound standard and also with the Federal Office of Public Health. The association’s journal is published 6 times a year. For members of the association the journal is included in the membership fee. Additional benefits for members include:

• A quality assurance program for freelancers, hospital nutrition teams, people working in industry and nutritionists in health promotion and prevention • Information on insurance, fiduciary services, pensions and more • Legal information regarding • criminal, labor and administrative law • Access to eNCPT

A rebate for nutrition and dietetic consultations provided by a dietitian is offered by the health insurance companies. Since the basic training as a dietitian- nutritionist has been undertaken at university level for a number of years, the SVDE ASDD recommends its members who have obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics use the following titles: BSc [Name of the university] Ernährungsberaterin SVDE (German) • BSc [Name of the university] Diététicienne ASDD (French)

Older members who obtained a diploma from a higher technical college use the following: Diplomierte Ernährungsberater/in HF (German) • Diététicienne ASDD dipl. ES (French). Switzerland, has three higher education institutes offering dietetic training: Geneva, Bern and a third that offers a long-distance learning program (Zürich/Bern).

Related organizations SGE The role of the Swiss Society for Nutrition (SGE) is to Swiss Nutrition Society promote a balanced diet for all. As a national www.sge-ssn.ch communication agency, it supports all stakeholders in nutrition issues.

The core competence of the SGE is the acquisition of knowledge, the development and communication of scientific principles on specific nutritional topics and their practical application (e.g. in the form of target group- oriented publications or concepts, recommendations on implementation strategies, etc.). In doing so, it performs an important bridging function between science, the public, the authorities and the economy.

2. National Nutrition Programmes/Projects Information about past and present national nutrition projects and programs can be found at https://www.blv.admin.ch

3. Organizations working on Health & Nutrition a. National Organizations (Government) BAG (Federal Office of The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) is responsible Public Health) for public health in Switzerland; it develops Switzerland’s https://www.bag.admin.ch health policy and works to ensure that the country has an efficient and affordable healthcare system in the long term.

The health policy strategy for 2020–2030 focuses on the four most pressing challenges in Switzerland:

• technological and digital transformation; • demographic and social changes, • maintenance of high-quality, affordable care; and • opportunities for a healthy life (environment/workplace)

3b. International Organisations World Health Organisation, Geneva https://www.who.int/ Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition: https://www.gainhealth.org/ A list of other organisations engaged in global health and what they do can be found at Geneva Global Health Hub: http://g2h2.org/

3c. Educational Institutes (Nutrition Education & Research) University of Applied Sciences and Arts Berner Fachhochschule Studiengang Western Switzerland Ernährung und Diätetik HEdS Genève Murtenstrasse 10 Haute école de santé 3010 Bern Tel. 0 Avenue de Champel 47 +41 31 848 35 60 1206 Genève E-Mail: [email protected] +41 22 388 56 00 Internet: E-Mail: [email protected] https://www.bfh.ch/de/studium/bachelor/ern Internet: aehrung-diaetetik/ https://www.hesge.ch/heds/formation- base/bachelor/nutrition-et-dietetique Fernfachhochschule Schweiz Überlandstrasse 12 Postfach 689 CH-3900 Brig +41 44 842 15 61 Email: info(at)ffhs.ch Internet: https://www.ffhs.ch/de/bachelor/ernaehrung -und-diaetetik

3d. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) A list of NGOs can be found at Geneva International: http://www.genevainternational.org

4. Assessment of Training Quality of National Dietitians, their Professional Role and Prestige

Training to be a dietitian in Switzerland requires successful completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics degree program at one of the educational institutes listed above under section 3c. The curriculum at each institute varies, as does the language so for details regarding each program please consult the links provided above. The programs offered in Geneva and Bern are modular, full-time and take 3 years. Each academic year consists of blocks of theory as well as practical placements. Practical placements total at least 30 weeks over 3 years at these institutions. In addition, students undertaking the Bachelor degree program at the Bern University of Applied Sciences complete a final 10-month practical training module at the end of the program.

The program offered by the long-distance learning university FFHS lasts 8 semesters consisting of 6 semesters Blended Learning and 2 Semesters full-time studies and integrated practical training placements. The program is based at two sites: Zürich and Bern. In addition, students undertaking the FFHS program complete a 12-month practical training module (based on a 4-day week) at the end of the program.

Students at each of the three institutions are assessed at the end of each module and during practical placements. They also complete a Bachelor Thesis. All three institutions are obliged to under accreditation at regular intervals.

Recognition of qualifications is the responsibility of the Swiss Red Cross www.redcross.ch/anerkennung. To date, there is no official license in Switzerland, but the titles provided at section 1 are protected by law.

5. Brief Description of National Healthcare System and Private Practice

The Swiss healthcare system is universal and of a high standard. Everyone living in Switzerland must have basic health and accident insurance (Soziale Krankenversicherung / Assurance maladie / Assicurazione-Mallatie) to receive treatment.

Unlike other European countries, the Swiss healthcare system is not tax-based or financed by employers. Instead, it is paid for by the individual through contributions into Swiss health insurance schemes. Many people top up the basic cover with supplementary private health insurance. Switzerland has one of the largest private healthcare sectors in the world, with good choice and competition.

There are around 60 registered health insurance companies in Switzerland, each offering the same benefits in their basic health insurance policies. Companies are obliged to accept anyone who applies, regardless of pre-existing health conditions. You are free to choose your own insurer and can change to another insurer once a year if you give sufficient notice.

You can take out optional supplementary health insurance at an extra cost from the same or separate insurer. Benefits vary from policy to policy but may include: • orthodontic treatment; • spectacles/contact lenses; • choice of doctor when you need treatment in hospitals; • stays in a private or semi-private hospital ward

You can choose the amount of coverage you have with private insurance. The greater the level of coverage, the higher the premium.

Cover includes up to six consultations as prescribed or referred by a doctor. Should further consultations be necessary, the doctor can renew the prescription. After 12 consultations, the treating doctor must consult one of the insurance company's medical advisers and suggest how the patient's treatment should continue. Health insurance covers nutrition counselling only in case of certain medical conditions and allergies.

A good summary can be found at the FOPH website: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/versicherungen/krankenversicherung/kra nkenversicherung-leistungen-tarife.html

6. Employment Opportunities Profile

The majority (48.2%) of dietitians work in the clinical setting, 28.9% work in a practice setting(alone or in a dietetic group practice), 4.4% in a interprofessional group practice, 6.9% at an educational institution, 3.7% in public administration, 3.2% for a non-profit organization, 1.6% in industry 2.4% in home care services and the rest in other private sectors of the economy (Occupational statistics on dietitians in Switzerland, Mahlstein & Weishaupt, 2018). The following report provides a good overview of the dietetic workforce in Switzerland: http://www.svde-asdd.ch/ernaehrungsberatung-als-beruf/

7. Obtaining Work Permits

Red Cross Switzerland (SRK) is responsible for verifying credentials obtained overseas. This is a two-part process consisting of a pre-check and verification phase. Applicants from other countries wanting to apply to have their credentials recognized must speak one of the following official languages: German, French or Italian to B2 level according to the European Reference for Languages (GER). Additional information is available at www.redcross.ch/anerkennung

8. Local Customs and Culture

Swiss combines influences from the German, Austrian, French and North . However, it varies greatly from region to region with the language divisions constituting a rough boundary outline.

Traditional Swiss include:

Cheese - Melted in which cubes of are dipped. Using a special fondue fork the bread cubes are swivelled in the melted cheese, which is served in a fondue pot.

Raclette - Melted cheese served with jacket potatoes (called "Gschwellti"), cocktail gherkins and as well as other pickled and fruit.

Älplermagronen -A kind of gratin with potatoes, macaroni, cheese, cream and onions. And most importantly, stewed apple on the side.

Rösti - Like a really large version of a hash brown, Rösti is a hot, flat cake made of grated, cooked jacket or raw potatoes and fried in hot or oil. It might be served as a side or as a itself with a fried egg or melted cheese atop.

Birchermüesli -Developed around about 1900 by the Swiss doctor Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Brenner, and similar to overnight oats, Birchermüesli typically consists of oats, natural yoghurt, grated apples, fruit in season and nuts such as hazelnuts or almonds.

Swiss

Switzerland is probably best known for its cheese and chocolate, both of which are of a very high standard. Each area of the country, often each region has its own types of cheese. For example, the Emmental area is known for the Emmentaler, famous for its big holes. However, Switzerland’s culinary heritage is not limited to cheese and chocolate. For more information on the culinary heritage of Switzerland visit Kulinarisches Erbe der Schweiz (Culinary Heritage of Switzerland) which provides details on the production, features and historical background of about 400 traditional foods of Switzerland across cantonal and regional boundaries.

9. CE Opportunities

Local continuing education opportunities are continuously updated by the SVDE ASDD Swiss Association of Registered Dietitians http://www.svde-asdd.ch/

CPE opportunities are provided through IAAND professional development activities such as IAAND conferences and webinars, through the Academy distance learning programs, the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Academy Foundation resources.

10. IAAND Volunteer Opportunities

Opportunities to assist IAAND with your time are probably endless. Learn as much as you can about IAAND and where your skills and interest would be of most benefit both to you and to IAAND. You could: § Assist IAAND in spreading awareness about nutrition and dietetics globally and advocating for nutrition issues in your local communities. § Support IAAND’s growth by recruiting new members and assisting fund- raising team. § Be a member on the IAAND leadership team § Assist in organizing conferences § Submit articles to the IAAND newsletter § Be a Kids Eat Right International volunteer.

For further information please contact the Country Rep for Switzerland: [email protected]

Written by: Louise Pollard Lichtsteiner (2020)