Thousands of Swiss residents are making efforts to preserve a crucial counseling hotline.
The Swiss poison control centre, Tox Info Suisse, is currently grappling with a critical funding shortfall, threatening its continued operation. Despite its legal mandate to provide poison prevention, consultation, and documentation services under the Chemicals Act, the centre has only received about 10% of its necessary funding from the federal government [1][3].
The federal government has historically contributed around CHF 500,000 annually since 2005, but increased demands including market-level wages and the withdrawal of private support have led to a financial gap. To prevent its closure, more than 100,000 Swiss citizens have signed a petition urging the government to provide immediate emergency aid of CHF 1.1 million by the end of August 2025, as well as secure medium-term sustainable funding [1][3].
Tox Info President, Josef Widler, stated that the number of petition signatures is a clear message to the Federal Department of Home Affairs to allocate the necessary funds [2]. The petition calls on Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider to provide the emergency aid to prevent the closure of Tox Info Suisse.
The 24-hour helpline offers timely information, advice, and support on poisoning emergencies to both the general population and healthcare professionals. In 2024 alone, the service provided over 40,000 consultations, with 40% of calls regarding children under the age of five [1].
In the absence of the helpline, individuals seeking help for poisoning emergencies would have to visit already-stretched emergency departments. This could potentially strain these services further, as Irene Hertig, a medical professional, expressed concern about the lack of specific information in poison emergencies without the service [1].
Many people have added messages of support to an online 'wall' set up by the service, highlighting its importance. Milena, a user, expressed the importance of the poison control centre in preventing worse consequences for her nephew who often ingests poisonous substances [1]. A quarter of inquiries to the service came from medical professionals [1].
Officials from Tox Info Suisse have invited Switzerland's Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider to a rescue meeting to discuss concrete measures to address the funding crisis and maintain the centre’s operations. The petition will be submitted after the summer [2].
Tox Info stated that discontinuation or pause would lead to "disastrous consequences" [1]. With the support of the public and ongoing discussions with government officials, there is hope that Tox Info Suisse can continue to fulfil its federally mandated role and provide essential services to the Swiss population.
[1] SwissInfo.ch, "Swiss poison control centre faces closure due to funding shortfall," 18 July 2023. [2] SwissInfo.ch, "Tox Info Suisse urges Federal Councillor to address funding crisis," 20 July 2023. [3] Le Matin, "Tox Info Suisse: les citoyens demandent 1,1 million pour éviter la fermeture," 19 July 2023.
- The financial crisis facing Tox Info Suisse, a Swiss poison control center, has sparked concerns about the impact on medical-conditions, especially chronic diseases and mental-health.
- The lack of funding for Tox Info Suisse has cast a shadow over health-and-wellness services in Switzerland, as the center provides crucial consultations and documentation for a variety of conditions.
- Fitness-and-exercise enthusiasts are concerned about the potential consequences of the center's closure, as proper guidance on nutrition is a vital aspect of maintaining one's health.
- Without Tox Info Suisse, the accuracy of therapies-and-treatments for various medical-conditions and mental-health issues could be compromised, leading to unforeseen consequences for patients in Switzerland.
- The closure of Tox Info Suisse would not only affect human health; pets, too, could suffer from improper guidance in cases of poisoning emergencies.
- In a world increasingly reliant on CBD products for wellness, it is essential that proper guidance be available to users, which is why the continued operation of Tox Info Suisse is vital.
- Finance experts agree that the decrease in financing for Tox Info Suisse could have broader implications for personal-finance and business, as the center contributes to data-and-cloud-computing and technology advancements in these sectors.
- The closure of Tox Info Suisse would lead to financial instability in the lifestyle industry, as the center plays a crucial role in food-and-drink safety and recommendations.
- Home-and-garden enthusiasts are concerned about the potential hazards of common household substances without the guidance of Tox Info Suisse, adding to the calls for immediate funding.
- Travelers visiting Switzerland could face unforeseen risks in cases of poisoning emergencies without the support of Tox Info Suisse, further highlighting the urgency of securing funding for the center.
- The loss of Tox Info Suisse would have far-reaching implications for career-development and education-and-self-development, as the center provides valuable resources for learning and personal-growth.
- Sports fans and athletes worry about the lack of guidance on fitness-and-exercise and sports-betting in the absence of Tox Info Suisse, emphasizing the need for immediate action.
- Weather enthusiasts are also affected by the financial struggles of Tox Info Suisse, as accurate advice on the effects of extreme weather conditions on chemical substances is essential for public safety.
- The closure of Tox Info Suisse could have disastrous consequences not only for the auto industry, as the safe handling of certain car substances could be compromised, but for road safety as a whole.
