Tox Info: increase in calls to artificial intelligence
145 handled almost 45'000 consultations Calls increased by 4,6% Medicines 36%; household cleaning 23% Secure financing by the end of 2027 Number
Context
TL;DR
- The 145 handled nearly 45'000 consultations
- Calls increased by 4,6%
- Medicines 36%; household cleaning products 23%
- Funding secured by the end of 2027
Key facts
- Emergency number → 145
- Service → Tox Info Suisse
- Consultation requests → almost 45'000
- Causes in 2025 → medicines 36%; household cleaning products 23%
- Hope → secure long-term funding by the end of 2027
An intense year for 145
On October 8, 2026, the 12.30 news bulletin broadcast an interview with Josef Widler, president of Tox Info, about the activities of number 145, intended for cases of suspected poisoning. The service received almost 45'000 consultation requests, up 4,6% from the previous year. Private individuals generated more than two-thirds of the calls, while those from healthcare personnel accounted for a quarter.
Causes of poisoning in 2025
The ranking for 2025 places medicines first, responsible for 36% of poisoning cases. Household cleaning products follow, at 23%. The two percentages describe the most precise part of the picture presented by Tox Info: number 145 was contacted for situations involving both medicines and products found in domestic environments.
Tox Info Suisse turned 60 in 2026. When the service began, the list for 145 included around 8'000 different possible poisons; today it contains more than 80'000. The comparison shows a very broad expansion of the information managed by the service, while 145 remains the reference number for suspected poisoning.
The history of the number also includes financial difficulty. Despite its long activity and numerous requests, the service had to fight for survival. Widler recalls that the financial struggle has lasted at least 50 years. There should be no problems this year or next, the president explains; the hope is to find secure long-term funding by the end of 2027. To distinguish this service from the other healthcare topics, the site also offers the LAMal/cassa malati guide.
Operational details
Internet and artificial intelligence change the process
Over Tox Info's 60 years, the way people seek information has changed twice: first with the internet, then with artificial intelligence. Josef Widler describes a specific pattern: people first look for information online; platforms generally then invite them to call an expert for safety. The result is an increase in calls, including those that turn out to be unnecessary.
From search to consultation
| Step | Source indication |
|---|---|
| Initial search | Information sought online |
| Subsequent invitation | Call an expert for safety |
| Effect | More calls, including unnecessary ones |
| Adaptation | More staff, especially in the evening |
The sequence has a practical effect for those seeking an answer: online consultation can become the first step, but the same platform can direct them to an expert. Tox Info does not present the increase in contacts solely as a problem. Widler explains that the service prefers one call too many rather than one too few and that, precisely to adapt to demand, it has increased staffing, especially in the evening.
The case of morels
The consultations also produce new information. Some Tox Info doctors reported two cases in which they could not determine whether the poisoning was attributable to morels, also known as sponge mushrooms. After a series of searches, they discovered that if these mushrooms are not cooked for 20 minutes, they can prove dangerous and deadly. The information was then disseminated on a large scale.
The case shows a second function of the service: not only answering questions, but also gathering new information through consultations and disseminating it. The financial difficulties, on the other hand, concern the continuity of the service and are not presented as an expense borne by private individuals. To separate this issue from the household budget, the website also provides information on costo della vita in Svizzera.
Recommended tools
For an updated estimate, use the net salary calculator and the CHF-EUR exchange comparator.
Useful tools to protect your net income
To reduce FX leakage, compare CHF-EUR exchange options and banks for cross-border workers.
Key points
What to do when a suspicion arises
The source makes it possible to derive an essential sequence of actions. The number indicated for suspected poisoning is 145, while the other steps depend on how the person obtained the initial information.
Four steps to follow
1. Recognize the situation. When there is a suspicion of poisoning, the number described by the source is 145, an emergency service for this type of request.
2. Consider online research as a preliminary step. If a platform consulted on the internet or through artificial intelligence invites you to call an expert for safety reasons, the recommendation coincides with the procedure outlined by Tox Info.
3. Bear in mind the evening organization. The service has increased the number of staff on duty, especially during the evening hours. This is the operational adjustment announced by Widler in response to the increase in contacts.
4. For morels, remember the specific fact. Morels can be dangerous and deadly if they are not cooked for at least 20 minutes. This is the information disseminated by Tox Info after the two cases studied by its doctors.
Regarding continuity, the publicly announced deadline is the end of 2027: by that date, the service hopes to obtain secure long-term funding. There should be no problems for 2026 and 2027, according to what the president explained. The outlook concerns the financial future of 145 and does not change the number to use in case of suspicion.
For more information about the healthcare resources available on the site, consult guide LAMal/cassa malati.
Evaluating a Ticino job offer? Simulate your net payslip: enter gross salary, marital status and municipality for a detailed breakdown.
Source: rsi.ch
Discover Ticino job offers updated daily: 4,000+ positions from Swiss companies hiring cross-border workers.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What number should you call in Switzerland in case of suspected poisoning?
- The number to dial is 145, the Tox Info Suisse service dedicated to consultations on suspected poisonings. In 2025 it handled almost 45'000 requests, 4,6% more than the previous year, demonstrating growing use by the public and healthcare professionals.
- What were the main causes of poisoning recorded by Tox Info in 2025?
- According to data released by Tox Info Suisse, 36% of poisonings are attributable to medicines and 23% to household cleaning products. These two categories account for more than half of the calls received at number 145, highlighting the most frequent household risks.
- By when is it hoped to secure long-term funding for service 145?
- President Josef Widler explained that the goal is to secure reliable long-term funding by the end of 2027. No liquidity problems should arise in 2026 and 2027, while work is underway to ensure continuity of service beyond that date.