Healthcare
Switzerland — Healthcare: Emergency Services
Emergency service numbers for Switzerland, as published by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (travel advice last updated 2026-08-11): Telephone: 112 (ambulance, fire, police); Ambulance: 144; Fire: 118; Police: 117.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceUK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — Switzerland travel adviceLast reviewed: 2026-10-18
Why this matters
Knowing 144 is the direct ambulance number (rather than only the generic 112) gets a faster, more targeted response, and understanding that ambulance rides are billed (not free even with basic insurance) avoids a surprise bill after an emergency.
Key facts
- Telephone: 112 (ambulance, fire, police)
- Ambulance: 144
- Fire: 118
- Police: 117
- Emergency medical number: Dial 112 or 144 and ask for an ambulance.
Steps
- Save key numbers on arrival — Store 144 (ambulance), 117 (police), 118 (fire), and 145 (poison) in your phone.
- Know your canton's on-call doctor line — Most cantons run a non-emergency medical advice/on-call doctor phone line for after-hours issues that don't need an ambulance.
- Carry insurance card — Present your basic insurance card at any hospital or ambulance encounter for billing purposes.
Costs
- Ambulance transport: Billed to patient; partially covered by basic insurance after deductible and 10% coinsurance
Required documents
- Basic health insurance card
- Passport/ID
Common mistakes
- Assuming an ambulance ride is free — it is billed and subject to the same deductible/coinsurance rules as other medical costs.
- Dialing only 112 out of habit when 144 (ambulance) may connect more directly for a medical emergency.
- Not knowing the cantonal on-call doctor number, leading to unnecessary emergency room visits for non-urgent after-hours issues.