Walk-In Clinics

What is a Permanence?

A Permanence (Permanenz, pronto soccorso ambulatoriale) is a walk-in medical clinic — an outpatient facility that accepts patients without appointments, typically with extended hours (early morning to late evening, weekends, and sometimes 24/7). They are operated by private providers, sometimes linked to pharmacies, hospitals, or insurer networks.

Major chains include Medbase Permanence, Permanence Migros (in larger Migros hypermarkets), and various independent clinics. Most larger Swiss cities and towns have at least one Permanence.

When a Permanence is the right choice

A walk-in clinic is appropriate for acute but non-life-threatening conditions where you cannot wait for a GP appointment:

• Ear pain, sinus infection, or sore throat needing diagnosis and prescription
• Urinary tract infection
• Mild fever or flu symptoms that need assessment
• Minor cuts requiring stitching or wound care
• Minor sports injuries (sprains, suspected minor fractures — they can X-ray)
• Eye irritation, minor conjunctivitis
• Rash or skin condition needing diagnosis
• Prescription renewals when your GP is unavailable

When a Permanence is not the right choice

• Chest pain, breathing difficulty, or suspected heart attack → call 144 or go to hospital ED immediately
• Stroke symptoms (facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty) → call 144
• Severe abdominal pain
• Head injuries with loss of consciousness
• Serious lacerations or crush injuries
• Mental health crises or suicidal ideation → call 143 (Dargebotene Hand) or hospital ED
• Complex multi-system conditions requiring specialist equipment

Costs at a walk-in clinic

Walk-in clinics are more expensive than a standard GP appointment. A Permanence consultation typically costs CHF 150–250, depending on the services provided, compared to CHF 80–180 for a GP. This is because:

• The overhead of extended hours staffing is higher
• In-house laboratory and X-ray capabilities add cost
• Higher billing codes may apply for the immediate-access model

KVG covers walk-in clinic visits in the same way as any GP visit — subject to franchise and Selbstbehalt. If your insurance model requires a GP referral first (Hausarzt, HMO), walk-in clinic visits may or may not count — check with your insurer. Most insurers treat Permanences as appropriate first-contact care for acute issues.

What to bring

• Your insurance card (Krankenkassenkarte)
• Photo ID or passport
• A list of current medications
• Any relevant previous records if available

No appointment needed. Expect a wait — popular Permanences in cities can have waits of 30–90 minutes during busy periods. Calling ahead to check wait times is worth doing.