Planned job cuts affecting administrative positions at Group level

The economic challenges facing the Swiss healthcare system are immense, and hospitals are under heavy financial pressure. Tariffs that do not cover costs for basic insurance and outpatient care, pressure on VVG tariffs, and the ongoing shift towards outpatient treatment with tariffs that also fail to cover costs, are taking their toll on hospitals. And this is taking place in an environment in which hospitals’ expenses are continuing to rise.

Hirslanden has been working on efficiency for some years, but in the current climate, the measures taken to date are no longer sufficient. Additional steps are needed in order to reduce the Group’s cost base. Hirslanden is forced to reduce staff costs as well. The intention is therefore to reduce the number of administrative, non-patient-facing positions at Group level. The resulting cost savings will contribute towards a return to a sustainable economic basis.

The planned cost-reduction measures may potentially affect up to 120 of the total of 765 posts in the Corporate Office division of Hirslanden AG. The positions that may be affected, which are administrative and non-patient-facing, are all located in Opfikon/Zurich.

From our present point of view, it appears that around 40 positions may be cut without dismissing employees, by refraining from filling vacancies and through natural fluctuation. It is expected that up to 80 jobs will have to be cut through redundancies, depending on the outcome of the recently initiated consultation process with the relevant members of staff.

Hirslanden regrets the potential consequences of the planned measures and will do everything in its power to support staff members in their professional reorientation. A redundancy scheme is being prepared in the event that the planned measures have to be implemented.

About Hirslanden

Hirslanden is committed to high-quality, responsible and efficiently integrated healthcare that focuses on the needs of the individual. Working together with private and public cooperation partners, the Hirslanden Group prioritises ongoing development of the Continuum of Care concept. From birth to old age, from prevention to healing, Hirslanden is always there, both on a physical and digital level.

Hirslanden differentiates itself from the rest of the market as a service provider with first-class medical and service quality, which is guaranteed by highly qualified independent specialists with years of experience who offer excellent care and services. Interdisciplinary medical centres of expertise, specialised institutes and competent cooperation partners enable optimal, personalised diagnosis and treatment, regardless of case complexity, in both inpatient and outpatient contexts.

The Hirslanden Group operates 17 hospitals in 10 cantons, many of which have an emergency department. It also operates five outpatient surgery centres, 19 radiology and six radiotherapy institutes. The Group has 2,886 partner doctors and 11,102 employees, 560 of whom are permanently employed doctors. Hirslanden is the largest medical network in Switzerland. In the financial year 2022/23 up to the reporting date 31.03.2023, the Hirslanden Group treated 111,107 patients as inpatients on 465,105 care days. The patient mix consists of 51.7% patients with basic insurance, 27.5% with semi-private insurance and 20.8% with private insurance. The Hirslanden Group was formed in 1990 through the merger of several hospitals. It is now part of the Mediclinic Group.