Swiss Review 4/2021

Swiss Review / August 2021 / No.4 29 competencies. A majority in both chambers of parliament agreed that action at a political level is needed to address the skills shortage. There are indications that the propor- tion of people leaving the profession will increase further following the pandemic, said Ticino SP member of the Council of States and doctor Marina Carobbio: “The im- mense pressures have had amajor impact onnurses’ health.” For the people behind the nursing initiative the coun- terproposal represents a major achievement. Nonetheless, they took the decision before the summer break to stick to their guns. The issue will go before the people, in Novem- ber at the earliest. The SBK is insisting on the points that parliament failed to entertain, especially regarding a tan- gible improvement in employment conditions. It says bind- ing requirements are needed, such as amaximumnumber of patients for a nurse to attend to during a shift. No compromise from the SBK Nursing representative Yvonne Ribi says: “What use is im- proved training when so many nurses are leaving the job?” Federal involvement is needed because it is a question of the financing mechanisms in the Swiss healthcare system. Nurses are not paid enough, she argues. Healthcare insti- tutions also want to see improvements in remuneration. Nevertheless, they prefer the indirect counterproposal. If the people and cantons approve the initiative, the parlia- mentary process would then start from the beginning and the urgent measures taken to address the skills shortage would be delayed by years, say the associations represent- ing hospitals, care homes and Spitex. If the initiative is rejected at the polls, the counterpro- posal will come into force. Basel CVP cantonal government member Lukas Engelberger, president of the Conference of Cantonal Health Directors, defends the compromise. The allocation of staff cannot be determined from the top, he says, and the initiative could entail high costs. One thing is for sure: Swiss nursing professionals are now counting on the support of the people. The prospects look good – not least due to Covid-19, a once in a century crisis. Nurses in Ticino hospital La Carita caring for a Covid-19 patient. After months of working under constant pressure, the staff are physically, psychologically and emotionally drained. Photo: Keystone