< Back Are there any vaccinations I should get or other health precautions to take as I prepare for my move to your city? Before I get sick, what should I know about seeking medical care in your city as an expat? What is the word for "doctor" in the local language? What is the best way to locate a suitable health care provider? Do expats in the area tend to leave the city/area/country to seek medical care? If so, why and where do they go? What is the number to call to summon help in an emergency? List medical/fire/police. What do I do if there's an emergency in the middle of the night—or at another time when my normal doctor/clinic is unavailable? How will I recognize a pharmacy? What is it called in the local language? Is the water safe to drink? Are there any vaccinations I should get or other health precautions to take as I prepare for my move to your city? No vaccinations are required to enter Switzerland, but all travelers coming into the country should be up-to-date on tetanus-diphtheria, measles-mumps-rubella, polio and varicella immunizations. It is also important to bring any medical certificates/records from your home country. Check any other specific vaccination requirements carefully with your local Switzerland consulate or embassy to confirm medical requirements. ↑ Top Before I get sick, what should I know about seeking medical care in your city as an expat? Swiss medical facilities and healthcare are among the best in the world and are of very high standards. However, healthcare is very expensive and having insurance prior to arrival is recommended. If you are staying for more than three months, private health insurance is obligatory. With that said, make sure that your health insurance from your home country will cover you until you can organize Swiss health insurance. For more information on local providers, contact Crown Fribourg. ↑ Top What is the word for "doctor" in the local language? Doctor: - French: docteur or médecin - German: Doktor or Arzt Dentist: - French: dentiste - German: Zahnarzt ↑ Top What is the best way to locate a suitable health care provider? In the phonebook under "médecin," you will have a list of doctors; dentists will be listed under "médecin-dentiste." You can also call the Fribourg Cantonal Hospital, which will guide you to a specialist (hopital cantonal de Fribourg, tel: 026 426 71 11). It is also good to ask your colleagues for some good tips. Your Crown Relocations consultant can also be a very good guide. ↑ Top Do expats in the area tend to leave the city/area/country to seek medical care? If so, why and where do they go? Considering that the Swiss medical care system is excellent, there should be no reason to leave. We have more the opposite: people coming from other countries who want to take advantage of our medical care. ↑ Top What is the number to call to summon help in an emergency? List medical/fire/police. These numbers are all in the phone book: Police: 117 Fire Rescue: 118 Ambulance: 144 Helicopter emergency number: 1414 or 1415 Poison Hot Line: 145 Roadside Assistance: 140 Emergency for Youths: 147 ↑ Top What do I do if there's an emergency in the middle of the night—or at another time when my normal doctor/clinic is unavailable? You can call the Cantonal Hospital who will guide you to a doctor on duty. (See number above.) ↑ Top How will I recognize a pharmacy? What is it called in the local language? French: Pharmacie German: Apotheke You can recognize them by their big neon green cross. ↑ Top Is the water safe to drink? Yes, the water is very safe to drink. ↑ Top IMPORTANT NOTE: Crown Relocations has made every effort to present accurate information. However, regulations, rates and other variables are subject to change and Crown Relocations cannot accept responsibility for the errors that might result. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact your local Crown representative.