Germany and Switzerland overhaul psychotherapy provision rules

In Germany, the Federal Joint Committee (G‑BA) left the psychotherapeutic staffing guidelines for psychiatric hospitals unchanged, despite evidence that patients receive only about 25 minutes of individual psychotherapy per week—roughly half the recommended amount. The German Federal Psychotherapists' Chamber (BPtK) and patient groups had urged the G‑BA to raise weekly therapy time to at least 50 minutes and increase transparency, but the proposals were rejected. The committee’s new measures focus mainly on restructuring psychosomatic care based on recent data from specialist societies.

Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) evaluated the recent shift to an "ordering model" for psychological psychotherapy. While access to therapy appears marginally better, waiting times have not decreased and gaps remain for children, rural residents, and migrants. Costs to the basic health insurance rose sharply from CHF 528 million in 2021 to CHF 922 million in 2024, driven by higher tariffs, population growth and other factors. BAG recommends continued cost monitoring, improved triage, and streamlining of psychiatric case assessments for therapy extensions.