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For clinics, centres and hospitals licensed in Zurich and Geneva

Swiss clinic licensing software, built to help you achieve a cantonal operating licence.

In Switzerland the canton licenses the clinic, through the Betriebsbewilligung in Zurich and the autorisation d'exploiter in Geneva, and both cantons set what the patient record must show. wai runs booking, signed clinical notes, patient messaging in German, French, English or any language, payments and an audit trail on one record, so the evidence a cantonal authority reads is kept as the work is done.

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Updated . Every Swiss cantonal licensing fact is checked against zh.ch and the other official pages cited below.

A woman holding a cup on a stone daybed in a glass-walled room high above Zurich, the lake and the city in early light

For

Ambulatory medical institutions, group practices run by a company, day surgery, hospitals and health systems

Regulators

Gesundheitsdirektion des Kantons Zürich, and Geneva's département chargé de la santé through the office cantonal de la santé

Framework

Gesundheitsgesetz LS 810.1 in Zurich, Loi sur la santé K 1 03 and RISanté K 2 05.06 in Geneva, with the KVG and the MedBG

Records

Kept in each clinic's own country, under its rules

For clinics, centres and health systems

  1. Practices run by an AG or GmbHIn Zurich, a company that employs its doctors needs a Betriebsbewilligung before the first patient is seen.
  2. Private medical institutions in GenevaAn autorisation d'exploiter, a médecin responsable and a written quality system, inspected by the canton.
  3. Multi-site groupsEvery Zurich location named in one licence, each with its own medical site lead, and every record kept the same way.
  4. Hospitals and health systemsCantonal supervision, quality contracts under the KVG, and one record behind every outpatient pathway.

What a cantonal authority finds with wai

A Zurich or Geneva clinic on wai answers every enquiry in the language the patient wrote in, closes each consultation with a note the doctor has signed, and can show any entry's author and time when the canton asks. The licence renewal, the staff list and the quarterly review draw on the same records.

What do Zurich and Geneva ask of a clinic in 2026?

Five areas the two cantons regulate, from the operating licence to the patient's rights.

Five areas Zurich and Geneva regulate, from the operating licence to the patient's rights. Open one for the rules behind it.1

01The operating licenceZurich requires a Betriebsbewilligung when medical services are provided in the name and for the account of a company. Geneva requires an autorisation d'exploiter for every health institution, with individual and group practices outside that chapter.6 requirements
  1. GesG § 35 and § 36, Betriebsbewilligung for ambulatory medical institutions
  2. LS articles 100 and 101, autorisation d'exploitation of a health institution
  3. RISanté article 4, the application, signed by the operator and the responsible professional
  4. RISanté article 20, the conditions for a private medical establishment
  5. Zurich, 10 years, renewable for 10 more
  6. Geneva, in principle for an indefinite period

The operating licence on zh.ch

02Licensed people and a responsible leadBoth cantons want a named person accountable for health rules, licensed to practise, and every professional licensed or supervised.5 requirements
  1. GesG § 36 Abs. 1 lit. c and d, a gesamtverantwortliche Leitung and a responsible medical lead
  2. Zurich, a medical site lead for every location
  3. RISanté article 21, the médecin responsable and their duties
  4. RISanté article 10, staff licences checked and every arrival and departure announced
  5. MedBG article 34, a cantonal licence to practise on one's own professional responsibility

Licensed people and a responsible lead on zh.ch

03The patient recordZurich and Geneva both require a record for every patient that shows who wrote each entry and when, kept at least 10 years.5 rules
  1. GesG § 13, Patientendokumentation, author immediately visible, electronic entries dated and stored unalterably
  2. GesG § 13 Abs. 3, kept 10 years after the last treatment
  3. LS articles 53 and 54, author and date of every entry, every change detectable
  4. LS article 57, kept at least 10 years after the last consultation, destroyed after 20 at the latest
  5. LS articles 55 and GesG § 13 Abs. 4, the patient's right to see the record and receive copies

The patient record on notes.zh.ch

04Quality and incidentsGeneva requires a written quality system and written incident reports. Zurich asks for quality management and error and complaint handling in the Betriebskonzept, and the KVG sets quality requirements for every provider billing basic insurance.5 requirements
  1. RISanté article 9, quality assurance, job descriptions, documented procedures and written incident reports
  2. LS article 106, incidents recorded, and quality controls by the department
  3. Zurich Betriebskonzept, Qualitätssicherung and Fehler- und Beschwerdemanagement
  4. KVV article 58g, quality management system, internal reporting and learning system, national quality measurements
  5. KVG articles 58 to 58h, quality development and the Federal Quality Commission

Quality and incidents on silgeneve.ch

05Patient rights, information and complaintsGeneva sets out the patient's rights to information, consent and access in law, with a commission that hears complaints. Zurich asks institutions to secure patient rights, data protection and accessible records.5 rules
  1. LS article 45, the right to clear information, and written information on rights at admission
  2. LS article 46, freely given, informed consent, withdrawable at any time
  3. LComPS articles 8 and 16, complaints to the commission de surveillance, and mediation
  4. MedBG article 40, the professional duties, patients' rights and objective advertising among them
  5. Zurich Merkblatt, patient rights, data protection and access to the record

Patient rights, information and complaints on silgeneve.ch

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What does a cantonal authority look at?

Six areas the Zurich Merkblatt and Geneva's RISanté name.2

  1. 01

    The operating concept

    Zurich asks for a written Betriebskonzept covering services, organisation, emergencies, medicines, records and quality, with a separate Hygienekonzept.

  2. 02

    People and roles

    An organigram showing supervision, a named medical lead in the management, and in Geneva job descriptions and an up to date staff list.

  3. 03

    Patient records

    A concept for keeping records under § 13 GesG in Zurich, and author and date on every entry under the LS in Geneva.

  4. 04

    Premises

    Floor plans with labelled rooms, access for ambulance services, and in Zurich premises accessible to wheelchair users.

  5. 05

    Insurance and probity

    In Zurich, operator liability insurance of at least CHF 5 million and criminal record extracts no older than 3 months for the leads.

  6. 06

    Quality and incidents

    A quality system with documented procedures and written incident reports in Geneva, error and complaint handling in Zurich.

How does a cantonal licence decision end?

The decision is a licence, which the canton grants, changes, limits or withdraws, and its conditions run for as long as the clinic operates.3

  1. GrantedZurich for 10 years, Geneva in principle indefinitely
  2. ChangedPrior notice of new sites, services or leads
  3. Limited or withdrawnWhen conditions are no longer met
  4. FinesUp to CHF 50,000

  1. 6 to 8 weeks

    is how long Zurich usually takes to decide a complete Betriebsbewilligung application, and no work may start before it is granted.4

  2. CHF 1,650

    is Geneva's fee for an autorisation d'exploiter a health institution, inspection included.5

  3. 10 years

    is the minimum time both cantons require a patient record to be kept after the last treatment or consultation.6

  • In Zurich, the Betriebsbewilligung is granted for 10 years and renewed on request for 10 more, and is generally never granted retroactively.
  • In Geneva, the authorisation is in principle indefinite, and may be limited or withdrawn for serious or repeated failings in organisation or quality of care.
  • Geneva may inspect any premises of an institution and consult any document, then reports its observations in writing.
  • Operating an institution without a licence in Zurich carries a fine of up to CHF 50,000 for the people responsible.

What has changed for Zurich and Geneva clinics?

Three things a clinic should know in October 2026, each marked as in force or announced.

  1. In force. Zurich's Gesundheitsgesetz has applied in a new consolidated version since 1 January 2026, the version this page cites.
  2. Announced. The operator of Zurich's electronic patient record decided on 25 June 2026 to stop at the end of 2026, and the Gesundheitsdirektion will not check providers' EPD connection duty from 2027 until further notice.7
  3. In force. Since 1 April 2021 the KVG has required national quality contracts and created the Federal Quality Commission, and KVV article 58g sets the quality requirements a provider must meet to bill basic insurance.

Zurich and Geneva side by side

The same job, done by two cantons under their own laws.8

ZurichGeneva
AuthorityGesundheitsdirektion, Amt für Gesundheit, Bewilligungen und AufsichtDépartement chargé de la santé, through the office cantonal de la santé and the médecin cantonal
LawGesundheitsgesetz, LS 810.1, § 35 to § 40Loi sur la santé, K 1 03, articles 100 to 107, and the RISanté, K 2 05.06
Who needs the institution licenceMedical services provided in the name of a company, such as an AG or GmbH, plus hospitals, nursing homes and SpitexEvery health institution, such as private medical establishments, birth centres and laboratories, with individual and group practices outside the chapter
Responsible personA gesamtverantwortliche Leitung, with a licensed medical lead inside it, and a site lead per locationA médecin responsable with a postgraduate title, registered and able to bill basic insurance
FeeUsually CHF 1,000CHF 1,650, inspection included
Time to decideUsually 6 to 8 weeks from a complete fileNot published in the law
Validity10 years, renewable for 10In principle indefinite
Patient record§ 13 GesG, author visible, dated and unalterable, 10 yearsArticles 52 to 58 LS, author and date, changes detectable, 10 to 20 years
Highest fineCHF 50,000 for operating without a licenceCHF 50,000 on an institution's operators

The German and French names

The official names behind this page, in the language each canton uses.

  1. Gesundheitsdirektion des Kantons Zürich, Zurich's health directorate.3
  2. Betriebsbewilligung, the operating licence for an institution.
  3. Berufsausübungsbewilligung, a professional's licence to practise.
  4. Patientendokumentation, the patient record under § 13 GesG.
  5. Office cantonal de la santé, Geneva's cantonal health office.
  6. Autorisation d'exploiter, the operating licence for a health institution.
  7. Médecin responsable, the doctor accountable for an institution.
  8. Commission de surveillance des professions de la santé et des droits des patients, which hears Geneva's complaints.

What should clinic software in Zurich and Geneva run?

Each module runs part of the clinic and records the evidence for the requirements listed beside it.

  1. 01

    Appointments and booking

    Online booking from your own website, every clinician's diary read from their calendar, reminders, rebooking after a missed visit and waitlist offers when a slot opens.

    Evidences The operating licencePatient rights, information and complaints

    For patients
    Online booking at any hour, with a reminder before the visit.
    For the business
    Fewer missed appointments, and cancelled slots offered to the waitlist.
    On the record
    Every booking, reminder and change, with a time and a name.
  2. 02

    Billing and payments

    Card payments into your own Stripe account, the cancellation policy shown at booking, invoices, statements and reconciliation, with an export for your accountant.

    Evidences Patient rights, information and complaints

    For patients
    A clear price and policy before they commit, and an invoice in their app.
    For the business
    Payments reconciled against visits, with an export for your accountant.
    On the record
    What was charged, when, against which visit, and the policy the patient saw.
  3. 03

    AI scribe and clinical notes

    The note, letters and referrals written from the consultation, cited to published clinical guidelines, with the transcript beside the note, for the clinician to read, edit and sign.

    Evidences The patient recordQuality and incidents

    For patients
    The clinician's attention stays on them during the consultation.
    For the business
    Less time spent writing notes after clinic.
    On the record
    A contemporaneous note, signed, with the time, the signature and the source it cites.
  4. 04

    Follow-ups and patient messaging

    WhatsApp, email and calls in one thread per patient, replies drafted in the patient's own language for your team to approve, a response clock on every new enquiry, and recalls a clinician approves.

    Evidences Patient rights, information and complaints

    For patients
    A reply in the language they wrote in, approved by your team.
    For the business
    More enquiries answered within the hour, when they are most likely to book.
    On the record
    The whole conversation on one record, with response times.
  5. 05

    Referrals, consent and audit trails

    Recording consent taken at booking, referrals written from the visit, patient flags for controlled drugs and safeguarding notes, and every read of a record logged against a named account.

    Evidences The patient recordQuality and incidents

    For patients
    Flags and checks in the record at the point of care.
    For the business
    Incident reviews that start from the audit trail, with times and names.
    On the record
    Who saw what, who changed what, and when, to the minute.
  6. 06

    Staff access and accountability

    Named accounts for every person, and role-based access enforced in the database, so every action sits under a name.

    Evidences Licensed people and a responsible leadThe patient record

    For patients
    Their record seen only by staff whose role allows it.
    For the business
    Access and actions tied to named people, in the same system as the record.
    On the record
    Who holds which role, and every action taken under it.
  7. 07

    Reporting

    Takings, front desk and website reports, response targets, and the patient's own record exportable on request.

    Evidences Quality and incidentsThe operating licence

    For patients
    A copy of their record when they ask for it.
    For the business
    Weekly reports for leaders on response times, the front desk and takings.
    On the record
    Reports for any period, produced on the day they are asked for.

Prices for clinics, groups and hospitals are published on the wai pricing page, and you can request a demo of the full platform.

A man standing at a wall of tall windows high above Geneva, the lake and the mountains in evening light

How does wai evidence each cantonal requirement?

For each requirement, the records wai keeps, how you produce them, and what changes for patients and the business.

The operating licence

Systems running before the licence is granted.

  • Named accounts for every person, with role-based access
  • Online booking, reminders and waitlist offers from the first day
  • Signed, timed notes on one record per patient
  • Records hosted in the clinic's own country, set up with you before go-live

On request. Show the record system the Betriebskonzept or the dossier describes, running on real patients.

For patients
A clinic that works properly from the first appointment.
For the business
A licence granted on time, with no weeks lost to an incomplete file.

Licensed people and a responsible lead

Every action under a named, licensed person.

  • A named account for every clinician and every member of staff
  • Role-based access enforced in the database
  • The signing clinician recorded on every note and letter
  • Every read and change of a record logged against the account

On request. Show who holds which role, and every action taken under it, to the minute.

For patients
Their record seen only by the people whose role allows it.
For the business
A staff list and access log that match, ready for the canton.

The patient record

A record where every entry has an author and a time.

  • Notes drafted from the consultation, read, edited and signed by the clinician
  • The transcript beside the note, so the source of each entry stays visible
  • Every read and change logged against a named account
  • The patient's own record exportable on request

On request. Open any consultation to see the note, its author, its signature and its time together.

For patients
A copy of their record when they ask for it.
For the business
Less time writing notes after clinic, and a record that meets both cantons' rules.

Quality and incidents

Incident reviews that start from the record.

  • An audit trail of who saw and changed what, and when
  • Signed, contemporaneous notes for every visit
  • Reports for any period, produced on the day
  • Patient flags for controlled drugs and safeguarding notes

On request. Pull the timeline behind an incident, with times and names, from the audit trail.

For patients
Problems found and fixed, with the reason recorded.
For the business
Quality reports built from live data, without a separate collection exercise.

Patient rights, information and complaints

Every patient conversation on one record, in their language.

  • WhatsApp, email and calls on one thread per patient, with response times
  • Replies drafted in the patient's language for your team to approve
  • Recording consent taken at booking, and the consent discussion in the note
  • The price and cancellation policy shown before the patient commits

On request. Show the whole conversation with a patient, who replied and how fast.

For patients
Clear answers in German, French, English or the language they wrote in.
For the business
More enquiries answered within the hour, when they are most likely to become appointments.

What do patients and the business gain?

Published research on response times, ambient scribes and appointment reminders.

  1. 7x

    An enquiry answered within the hour is nearly seven times as likely to become a real conversation.9

  2. 30%

    Clinicians using an ambient scribe did 30% less work after hours.10

  3. 23%

    Patients sent a notification before their visit were 23% more likely to attend.11

How does wai surface cantonal evidence on request?

What may be asked for, where it is kept in wai, and how it is produced.

  1. The patient recordThe patient record, beside the transcriptOpen the consultation to see the note, its author, signature and time together.
  2. Changes to an entryThe audit trailWho changed the note, when, and the signed version that stands.
  3. Access to recordsEvery recordWho read it, under which account, to the minute.
  4. Staff and rolesAccounts and rolesWho holds which role, matched to the staff list the canton holds.
  5. ConsentThe booking and the noteThe recording notice the patient saw at booking, and the consent discussion in the note.
  6. Patient communicationThe patient's threadEvery message, in German, French or any language, with response times.
  7. Fees and policiesPaymentsWhat was charged, against which visit, and the policy the patient saw.
  8. Quality reportingReportsResponse, front desk and takings reports for any period, on the day.

How do you prepare a Swiss clinic for its cantonal licence?

A readiness checklist in four parts, for Zurich and Geneva.

01The licence

  • Confirm which licence applies, a doctor's own practice licence or an institution licence.
  • In Zurich, file 6 to 8 weeks before opening, with every attachment complete.
  • In Geneva, submit plans before works start, and sign the request with the responsible professional.
  • Diary the Zurich renewal before the 10 years run out.

02People

  • A responsible medical lead named, licensed and part of the management.
  • A medical site lead for every Zurich location.
  • Every clinician's cantonal licence on file, and every arrival and departure notified.
  • Name, first name and role worn visibly by every professional in a Geneva institution.

03Records

  • Every entry shows its author, and electronic entries are dated and unalterable.
  • Records kept at least 10 years, with Zurich's Merkblatt recommending 20.
  • Patients can see their record and receive copies.
  • A plan for the records if the clinic or a doctor stops practising.

04Quality

  • Procedures written down and kept current.
  • Incidents reported in writing, with corrective action.
  • A complaint process patients can find.
  • For basic insurance billing, an internal reporting and learning system.

What will the canton ask you?

Questions that follow from what the law lets the canton see, what to show, and where wai holds the answer.

01Who is responsible for compliance with health rules here?

What to show

The named medical lead or médecin responsable, licensed, with a signed declaration and a current job description.

Where wai has it ready

Named accounts and roles show who holds the lead role, and every action taken under it.

02Show me how the patient record is kept.

What to show

A record where every entry shows its author and date, and no change goes unseen.

Where wai has it ready

Notes are signed and timed by the clinician, and every change is logged against a named account.

03Which professionals work here, and are they licensed?

What to show

An up to date staff list with each person's cantonal licence.

Where wai has it ready

Every person has a named account, so the staff list and the access log match.

04How are incidents recorded and acted on?

What to show

Written incident reports, with corrective and preventive measures.

Where wai has it ready

The audit trail gives each review its timeline, with times and names.

05How do patients receive information and give consent?

What to show

What the patient was told, when they agreed, and where it is written.

Where wai has it ready

Recording consent is taken at booking, and the consent discussion is in the signed note.

06Can a patient see and copy their record?

What to show

How a request is handled, and how fast.

Where wai has it ready

The patient's record can be exported on request.

07How do you use AI in care?

What to show

Where AI is used, and who decides.

Where wai has it ready

AI drafts the note and the reply. The clinician signs the note, and a person approves every message.

What is at stake in a Swiss cantonal licence?

No institution may see a patient before its licence is granted, and the market the licence opens is large.

  1. CHF 50,000

    is the highest fine in Zurich for knowingly operating an institution without a licence, under § 61 of the Gesundheitsgesetz.6

  2. CHF 12.1 billion

    was the 2020 turnover of Switzerland's 16,876 medical practices and ambulatory centres.12

  3. 1,628,000

    people lived in the canton of Zurich at the end of 2025, 29% of them with a foreign passport.13

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Swiss cantonal licensing guides

All Swiss cantonal licensing guides
  1. LicenceHow do you get a clinic operating licence in Zurich or Geneva?9 min read
  2. InspectionHow do you prepare a Swiss clinic for a cantonal inspection?8 min read
  3. DocumentsWhich documents and policies does a Zurich or Geneva clinic need?9 min read
  4. EvidenceHow should a Swiss clinic organise its licensing evidence?7 min read
  5. InspectionWhat happens when the canton inspects your clinic?7 min read
  6. SafetyHow should a Swiss clinic handle incidents and complaints?8 min read
  7. PatientsWhat do Zurich and Geneva expect of patient experience?8 min read

Questions

What is the best clinic software for Swiss cantonal licensing?

The best software for a Zurich or Geneva clinic is the system the clinic already runs on, so the evidence is kept as the work is done. Look for a record that shows the author and time of every entry, notes signed by the clinician, messaging in German, French and English, named accounts with role-based access and a full audit trail. wai is built that way, to help you achieve a cantonal operating licence.

Is there canton approved clinic software?

Each cantonal health authority, the Gesundheitsdirektion in Zurich and the department of health in Geneva, licenses health institutions and the professionals who practise in them. It does not approve, certify or endorse software, wai included, and software cannot earn a licence on a provider's behalf. wai keeps the records your team uses to show the canton how care is delivered, and the canton decides the licence.

Does a doctor's own practice in Zurich need a Betriebsbewilligung?

No, an individual or group practice run in the doctor's own name needs only the doctor's Berufsausübungsbewilligung. A Betriebsbewilligung is needed when the practice is run in the name and for the account of a company such as an AG or GmbH.

Does a private practice in Geneva need an autorisation d'exploiter?

Individual and group practices are outside the Loi sur la santé's chapter on health institutions. A private medical establishment, a birth centre, a home care organisation or a laboratory needs an autorisation d'exploiter.

How long must a Swiss clinic keep patient records?

At least 10 years in both cantons. Zurich counts from the last treatment, and its Merkblatt recommends 20 years because personal injury claims can now be brought for 20. Geneva counts from the last consultation and says records are destroyed after 20 years at the latest.

Can AI write notes in a Zurich or Geneva clinic?

The cantons' record rules ask that the author of each entry is visible and that electronic entries are dated and that changes stay detectable. A note drafted by AI meets that when the clinician reviews it, edits it and signs it under their own name, and every change stays in the audit trail.

Where does wai keep our records?

In each clinic's own country, under that country's rules, encrypted, with a full audit log. We set this up with you before go-live.

Zurich and Geneva in depth

All regulators
  1. By cityZurich, the Gesundheitsdirektion licenses every doctor practising on their own responsibility, and § 13 GesG sets the record rules.
  2. By cityGeneva, the Loi sur la santé licenses practitioners and health institutions, and keeps records at least 10 years.

Across Switzerland and Europe

  1. Read nextAll regulators
  2. Read nextJCI accreditation
  3. Read nextHAS certification in France
  4. Read nextClinic management software
  5. Read nextSecurity and data protection
  6. Read nextPricing for clinics, groups and hospitals

See wai on your own diary, notes and inbox.

Fifteen minutes on video, in German, French or English, on your own clinic's records. Built to help you achieve a cantonal operating licence. wai hosts each clinic's records in its own country, under that country's rules. We set this up with you before go-live.

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team@wellnessa-i.com

Sources

  1. 1Kanton Zürich, Gesundheitsdirektion, 2026BetriebsbewilligungRead source
  2. 2Kanton Zürich, Gesundheitsdirektion, 2024Merkblatt Betriebsbewilligung für ambulante ärztliche Institutionen, September 2024Read source
  3. 3République et canton de Genève, SILGENEVE, 2026Loi sur la santé (LS), K 1 03, du 7 avril 2006Read source
  4. 4Kanton Zürich, Gesundheitsdirektion, 2026Betriebsbewilligung für ambulante zahn-/ärztliche Institution beantragenRead source
  5. 5République et canton de Genève, SILGENEVE, 2025Règlement fixant les émoluments perçus par le département chargé de la santé (REmSanté), K 1 03.04Read source
  6. 6Kanton Zürich, Zürcher Gesetzessammlung, 2026Gesundheitsgesetz (GesG) vom 2. April 2007, LS 810.1, in force from 1 January 2026Read source
  7. 7Kanton Zürich, Gesundheitsdirektion, 2026Elektronisches PatientendossierRead source
  8. 8République et canton de Genève, SILGENEVE, 2025Règlement sur les institutions de santé (RISanté), K 2 05.06, du 9 septembre 2020Read source
  9. 9Harvard Business Review, 2011The Short Life of Online Sales LeadsRead source
  10. 10JAMA Network Open, 2025Clinician Experiences With Ambient Scribe Technology to Assist With Documentation Burden and EfficiencyRead source
  11. 11BMJ Open, 2016Using digital notifications to improve attendance in clinic, systematic review and meta-analysisRead source
  12. 12Federal Statistical Office, 2022Strukturdaten der Arztpraxen und ambulanten Zentren 2020, 12,1 Milliarden Franken Umsatz in den ArztpraxenRead source
  13. 13Kanton Zürich, Statistisches Amt, 2026Bevölkerung, Bestand und StrukturRead source