Moving to Ecublens? How to find a doctor for your family

Moving to a new country is exciting, but it comes with a long to-do list: finding a home, registering with the commune, enrolling the children in school, opening a bank account. Somewhere on that list, often near the bottom, sits a task that matters more than it seems: finding a doctor. Many families only think about it the day a child runs a high fever on a Sunday evening, and discover that the Swiss healthcare system works quite differently from the one they knew.

Ecublens, on the shores of Lake Geneva just west of Lausanne, welcomes many newcomers every year. Some come to study or work at the EPFL and UNIL campus next door, others for jobs in Lausanne, Renens or the surrounding business areas. This guide, written by the MEDERI medical practice in Ecublens, explains step by step how to get set up: health insurance, choosing a family doctor, care for your children, emergencies, and what to bring to your first appointment.

How healthcare works in Switzerland

Swiss healthcare is high quality but organised differently from many countries. There is no national health service: instead, every resident must take out basic health insurance with a private insurer of their choice. Doctors in private practice, like the family doctors in Ecublens, are paid per consultation according to a national tariff, and your insurer reimburses the costs, minus your share.

The family doctor (médecin de famille, or médecin généraliste) is the cornerstone of the system. He or she is your first point of contact for almost any health problem, treats most of them directly, coordinates care with specialists and hospitals, and keeps your medical records over the years. Having a family doctor is not compulsory, but it is strongly recommended, and some insurance models require it.

Step 1: take out health insurance

Mandatory within three months

Everyone who moves to Switzerland must take out basic health insurance (known as LAMal in French, KVG in German) within three months of arrival. If you do so within this period, your cover is backdated to the day you arrived. Each family member, including babies and children, needs their own policy. Basic cover is the same with every insurer by law; what differs is the premium and the service.

Deductible and co-payment

You pay a monthly premium, plus a share of your medical costs: an annual deductible (franchise), which you choose when you sign up, and a co-payment (quote-part) of 10% of costs above the deductible, capped each year. A higher deductible means a lower premium, but more out-of-pocket costs if you need care. For children, the deductible is usually zero and the co-payment reduced.

Choosing an insurance model

Insurers offer several models. Choose one below to see how it affects your choice of doctor.

Basic insurance does not cover everything. Routine dental care, for example, is generally not covered, nor is a private room in hospital. Supplementary insurance can cover these, but it is optional and insurers may ask health questions before accepting you.

Step 2: find a family doctor

This is often the trickiest step. Like much of Switzerland, the Lausanne area faces a shortage of family doctors, and many practices no longer take new patients. A few tips:

• Start earlyLook for a doctor as soon as you arrive, not the day you fall ill.
• Book onlinePlatforms such as OneDoc show which doctors have free slots for new patients.
• Look beyond your streetA doctor ten minutes away who has availability is better than none.
• Check your insuranceWith a GP or network model, choose from your insurer's list.
• One doctor for allA family doctor can see parents and children alike.
• Mind the languageAsk whether consultations are possible in English.

At the MEDERI medical practice in Ecublens, Dr Vincent Arzul is accepting new patients, adults and children, and consults in English. You can book a first appointment online at any time.

Step 3: healthcare for your children

In Switzerland, children can be followed either by a paediatrician or by a family doctor. Paediatricians in the region are in high demand, so many families choose a family doctor who can see the whole household. Dr Arzul, who trained in paediatrics among other specialities, sees children for everyday issues: fever, ear and throat infections, stomach bugs, rashes, minor injuries, and certificates for school, nursery or sports.

Bring your children's vaccination records to the first appointment. Swiss vaccination recommendations may differ slightly from those in your home country, and the doctor can check whether any catch-up doses are needed. Keep the records safe: schools and nurseries may ask for them.

Spending time outdoors is a big part of life here. If your family enjoys walks in the woods, learn how to check for ticks afterwards: see our guide on insect bites, ticks and animal bites (in French).

Step 4: your first appointment

The first appointment is an opportunity to get to know your new doctor. Allow a little more time than for a regular visit. The doctor will ask about your medical history, current treatments, allergies, family history and lifestyle, examine you, and may suggest a check-up with a blood test, which can be done at the practice.

Prepare the following. Tick each item as you go.

• Your Swiss health insurance card (and your children's)
• An ID document
• A list of your medications with doses, or the boxes themselves
• Vaccination records for each family member
• Recent medical reports and test results, ideally in English or French
• Contact details of your previous doctor

Prescriptions from abroad. Foreign prescriptions are generally not accepted as such by Swiss pharmacies, and some medicines have different names or are not available here. If you take a regular treatment, bring enough for your first weeks and book an appointment early so the doctor can prescribe Swiss equivalents. Once you are registered, routine prescription renewals can often be done by video: see our guide on teleconsultation (in French).

Chronic conditions. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes or another long-term condition, tell the doctor at your first visit so follow-up can continue without interruption: see our guide on hypertension and diabetes (in French).

Settling in: look after your wellbeing too

Moving abroad is one of life's big transitions. Even when it is a happy choice, it brings its share of stress: a new language, a new job or school, a partner or children who need time to adapt, friends and family far away. Sleep problems, anxiety, low mood or exhaustion are common in the first months, and they are nothing to be ashamed of.

Your family doctor is a good first person to talk to. He or she can listen, help you understand what is going on, suggest practical solutions and, if needed, refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist, some of whom work in English. Do not wait until things become overwhelming. See our guide on anxiety and sleep problems (in French).

Expecting a baby?

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you will usually be followed by a gynaecologist-obstetrician and give birth in a maternity unit of your choice in the region. Your family doctor remains a useful point of contact for everyday health questions, for the rest of the family and, after the birth, for your baby's everyday care. Make sure your baby is insured from birth: in Switzerland, you need to take out a policy for your newborn, ideally before the birth.

Bringing parents or grandparents?

Some families move with, or are later joined by, older relatives. Their insurance situation can be complex, so seek advice early. Once they are insured, the practice can follow them too: chronic conditions, medication reviews, fall prevention and, when travelling becomes difficult, home visits. In Switzerland, drivers aged 75 and over must also pass a regular medical check to keep their licence; Dr Arzul is certified to carry it out. See our guide on the driving licence medical check at 75 (in French).

Life in Ecublens

Ecublens combines the calm of a residential town with the energy of one of Switzerland's leading academic campuses. Families enjoy the lakeside paths, parks and woods, good schools and excellent public transport: the M1 metro links Ecublens to Lausanne city centre and to Renens railway station, from where trains run to Geneva and the rest of Switzerland. The western Lausanne area is international, and English is widely spoken on campus and in many workplaces, although French remains the language of everyday life. Learning a little French will make many things easier, including at the doctor's, but you can count on being understood in English at the MEDERI practice.

Emergencies and out-of-hours care

Save these numbers in your phone and stick them on the fridge, especially if a babysitter looks after your children.

Hospital emergency departments are meant for serious situations. For everyday problems, your family doctor is the right place to go, and will usually see you more quickly and with your medical history at hand. For an urgent problem during the week, the practice offers same-day appointments, in person or by video, depending on availability.

Pharmacies and everyday care

Swiss pharmacies are a valuable first stop for minor ailments. Pharmacists can give advice, sell many over-the-counter medicines and tell you when you should see a doctor. Some medicines that are sold freely elsewhere require a prescription in Switzerland, and vice versa. Pharmacies on duty at night and at weekends rotate; your local pharmacy will display the details.

The MEDERI medical practice in Ecublens

Founded some forty years ago by Dr Jacques-Henri Dubi, who still practises there, the MEDERI medical practice on Route du Bois has looked after families from Ecublens and the surrounding area for generations. Today, Dr Vincent Arzul is gradually taking over the patient list, working closely with Dr Dubi so that every patient keeps continuous care.

Dr Arzul graduated in general medicine with highest honours from the Université Clermont Auvergne in France. He trained in emergency medicine, geriatrics, paediatrics and gynaecology, and worked for six years as an independent family doctor in Annecy before joining the practice in Ecublens. He describes his approach as rigorous and attentive, taking the time to explain, and putting long-term continuity first. He consults in French and English.

The practice welcomes patients from Ecublens and all the neighbouring communes of the western Lausanne area: Saint-Sulpice, Chavannes-près-Renens, Renens, Crissier, Bussigny, Échandens and beyond. See our page on neighbouring communes (in French).

Students and researchers

If you are moving to Ecublens to study or work at the EPFL or the UNIL, the practice is just minutes from campus. Students from abroad have specific insurance rules, sometimes with exemptions or student policies, so check your situation carefully with your university's welcome office. See our guide for EPFL and UNIL students and researchers (in French).

Your health checklist for the first months

1. Week 1

   Register with the commune of Ecublens. Save the emergency numbers. Locate your nearest pharmacy.

2. First month

   Compare health insurers and choose a deductible and a model. Book a first appointment with a family doctor for each family member.

3. Within three months

   Make sure every family member has basic health insurance; cover is then backdated to your arrival.

4. After the first visit

   Ask your previous doctor to send your records. Check vaccinations and catch up if needed. Set up prescription renewals.

Frequently asked questions

In summary

Settling in Ecublens is much easier once your family's healthcare is organised: health insurance within three months, a family doctor for everyone, vaccination records in order and emergency numbers at hand. At the MEDERI medical practice in Ecublens, Dr Vincent Arzul welcomes new patients, adults and children, in English and French. Book your first appointment early, before you need it, and enjoy your new life by the lake.

Further reading