The shortage of psychiatrists will worsen in Switzerland

blue News and Keystone-ATS give you a first overview of the news, with the latest news unearthed in the press. Without forgetting birthdays and the saying of the day!

Today’s highlights

RETIREMENTS: The Council of States discusses the 13th AVS pension on Wednesday. This must be paid in one go in December, for the first time in 2026, a point which is not disputed. However, the deputies do not comment on the financing of this annuity. The preparatory committee considered that the situation of the fund did not require an immediate source of financing and that Parliament should take its time to analyze the situation.

EXTRA-FAMILY HOME: A new idea on long-term financing of extra-family childcare arrives on the senators’ desk on Wednesday. It provides a new childcare allowance for children up to 8 years old who are looked after in an institutional setting. It must amount to a minimum of 100 francs per month and be increased by 50 francs for each additional half-day of care. Discussions are looming in particular on the financial participation of the Confederation.

PARLIAMENT: The cantons of Aargau and Appenzell Ausserrhoden celebrate Maja Riniker (PLR/AG) and Andrea Caroni (PLR/AR) on Wednesday, elected President of the National Council and President of the Council of States on Monday. The Aargau national councilor is expected shortly before 2 p.m. in Aarau by the authorities and the population of her canton. In Herisau, the festivities in honor of the Appenzell senator are due to begin around 4 p.m.

MURDER: An octogenarian is on trial on Wednesday by the Neuchâtel Criminal Court for having killed his wife in their marital apartment in Neuchâtel in June 2023. The man is accused of having placed his right hand on the victim’s mouth and nose, preventing him from breathing, to the point of causing loss of consciousness and death.

ENVIRONMENT: Friborg State Councilors Didier Castella and Jean-François Steiert present on Wednesday the ecological sanitation project for the hydroelectric installations in Schiffenen (FR). Several variants have been developed, including one selected by the State of Friborg and which will be developed by Group E.

France: The French National Assembly is due to debate on Wednesday two motions of censure against the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier, appointed only three months ago. The text has a strong chance of being adopted, the RN having promised to vote for the left’s text. The motions were tabled on Monday following the Prime Minister’s triggering of article 49.3 of the constitution, to have the social security financing bill adopted without a vote. Michel Barnier called on Tuesday for responsibility so as not to bring down the government and avoid political and budgetary “chaos”.

Football: Sion and Yverdon are competing on Wednesday in the round of 16 of the Swiss Football Cup. The Valais travel to Basel (8:15 p.m.), first in the Super League, and the Vaudois welcome Lugano to the municipal stadium at 8:30 p.m. The challenge is great for FC Sion, which has not won in the Rhine city since June 7, 2015 in the Swiss Cup. That day, the Sédunois lifted the trophy for the 13th time after a match won 3-0.

TODAY IS…: Like every December 4, today is International Banking Day. It aims to recognize the potential of banks in financing sustainable development, but also the vital role of state banking systems in contributing to improving living standards. All information on the UN website.

Seen in the press

HEALTH: The shortage of psychiatrists is expected to worsen in Switzerland if nothing is done, warn the Basler Zeitung, the Berner Zeitung, the Bund and the Tages-Anzeiger on Wednesday. Of the 4,750 psychiatrists listed in the country, more than 1,000 were over 65 last year.

In addition to aging and the growing need for treatments, salary is one of the reasons for the lack of specialists. A psychiatrist working in a private practice earns on average 176,000 francs, a child and adolescent psychiatrist 141,000 francs. On the other hand, in cardiology, it is possible to earn on average 416,000 francs per year.

SECURITY: If the Federal Council decided, despite a high terrorist threat, not to reintroduce border controls like Germany and France, it is because Switzerland experiences “a significant difference compared to the countries of the European Union” (EU), indicated Wednesday in Le Temps Pascal Lüthi, the director of the Federal Office of Customs and Border Security (OFDF).

“We have always practiced customs controls, because we are not members of the EU customs union,” he adds, stressing that there is always a presence at the border. If it were necessary to increase the number of checks, as requested by the UDC and the PLR, the OFDF does not have any personnel reserves, he adds. “These operations are only possible if they remain limited in time.”

WEATHER: The Federal Council’s response to the request for help to rebuild the Val Maggia, devastated by bad weather at the start of the summer, “dumbfounded” the Ticino authorities, the Neue Zürcher Zeitung reported on Wednesday. The newspaper refers to a letter sent Monday to Bern and written by the mayor of the municipality of Lavizzara (TI) and the mayor of Cevio (TI).

The Confederation says it wants to participate in the reconstruction up to 35% of the total costs of 100 million francs, in accordance with the law. Mountain villages could thus have to bear costs of several million francs. And since the Confederation’s contribution has not yet been determined, reconstruction cannot be planned, they add.

Birthdays and jubilees

– 25 years ago (1999): dissolution of the Alliance of Independents, the political party created in 1936 by the founder of Migros, Gottlieb Duttweiler.

– 30 years ago (1994): the Swiss people approved for the first time since 1912 a new law on health insurance (LAMal). He also says “yes” to a tightening of policy towards foreigners and asylum seekers (constraint measures in foreigners’ law).

– 70 years ago (1954): founding of the Burger King fast food chain in Miami. It then developed a global network of restaurants as a collective catering company.

– 75 years ago (1949): birth of American actor Jeff Bridges (“The Big Lebowski”, “Tron”).

– 90 years ago (1934): creation of Japan’s largest national park, Daisetsuzan National Park, covering an area of ​​more than 2,200 square kilometers.

Saying of the day

“Who is Saint Barbara, who is Christmas; which is Christmas, which is the New Year.

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