Basel: ADHD assessments delegated to students in clinics (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• ADHD assessments delegated to students for years
• There are no cases of incorrect diagnosis at the UPK
• Intervention of the NZZ am Sonntag on the clinic
• Assessments and proposals made by interns

Key facts

• What: ADHD assessments and assessments entrusted to students
• Where: University psychiatric clinics in Basel (UPK)
• When: For years, according to the revelations that emerged
• Who: Intern students and responsible psychologist
• Source: NZZ am Sonntag and Keystone-ATS
• Exam period: Between 2020 and 2024
• Sector: Child and adult health and psychiatry

According to NZZ am Sonntag, the University Psychiatric Clinics of Basel (UPK) have for years largely delegated ADHD assessments to students. At the UPK there are currently no cases where this has led to an incorrect diagnosis, as they communicated on Sunday. The newspaper claims, citing some former interns, that the latter would have carried out, practically alone, the assessments for ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and formulated diagnostic proposals. A psychologist would then assume responsibility for the diagnosis, despite not having personally visited the patients.

Psychology interns are involved, as part of their training, in standardized diagnostic procedures, the UPKs write today in this regard. Determinants for the quality of these procedures are specialist supervision,

Operational details

The UPKs will carefully evaluate the results of the investigations and inform in a transparent manner about any further corrective measures to be taken. The UPKs also intend to clarify the issues related to invoicing raised in the article published by the press. According to the NZZ am Sonntag, the association of health insurers Prioswiss considers the billing of the basic insurance LAMal inadmissible if the benefits have been provided by students instead of by fully qualified professionals and independently qualified to exercise the health profession.

However, before the article, the UPKs would have initiated significant improvements in this specific management and administrative area, according to their official statement. The professional accompaniment of students has been markedly intensified and discussions on individual clinical cases are now conducted directly by the new psychological co-direction established in the structure. In addition, there is a further strengthening of specialist and medical psychological resources to ensure high quality standards and compliance with current regulations in the Swiss health sector.

Implications for LAMal invoicing

The central issue concerns the eligibility of reimbursements through compulsory health care insurance. When services are provided by trainee staff without direct supervision and

Recommended tools

For an updated estimate, use the net salary calculator and the CHF-EUR exchange comparator.

Key points

An ADHD diagnosis often has far-reaching consequences for those affected, profoundly impacting the daily, academic, and professional lives of the patients involved. It may entail the right to compensatory measures for disadvantages in education or studies, guaranteeing specific protections provided for by current regulations. Furthermore, it often involves taking medication for years, requiring constant and rigorous medical monitoring by qualified specialists.

Between 2020 and 2024, the prescription of ADHD medications in Switzerland almost doubled, highlighting a steady and significant growth in the demand for targeted evaluations and treatments nationwide. However, medications are prescribed exclusively by physicians and not by psychologists or trainees, limiting the responsibility for pharmacological therapy to the structured medical body. To learn more about the economic impact and the management of health and insurance expenses in Switzerland, consult the cost of living or check health insurance coverage through the dedicated health benefits section.

Regulations and pharmacological prescriptions

The marked increase in prescriptions recorded between 2020 and 2024 emphasizes the need for diagnostic rigor in all psychiatric facilities across the country. The distinction between the psychological assessment phase and the subsequent medical prescription represents a fundamental safeguard for patient safety. For a comprehensive overview of expense management and services in the Swiss context, consult the cost of living.

For a precise net salary calculation, use our tax comparator: compare take-home pay between G and B permits with all 2026 deductions.

Source: swissinfo.ch