Hirslanden and Medbase new medical supplier to leading football referees in Switzerland

In spring 2021, the SFV decided to put the medical care of its approximately 70 leading referees and assistant referees on a new footing. «We were looking for a medical supplier with a vision for the future, who ideally already had experience in professional sport,» recalls Dani Wermelinger, head of leading referees at the SFV. «With Medbase and Hirslanden, we immediately saw a basis for a partnership cooperation – and above all also the necessary drive for further development of the SFV in this area,» Wermelinger explains the choice of the new partner.

«For Hirslanden, it was clear that we would apply together with Medbase as a medical supplier,» says Stéphan Studer, Chief Operating Officer West of the Hirslanden Group. «Together, we can ensure comprehensive and continuous support for the SFV's leading referees in terms of prevention, performance diagnostics, coaching, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and acute medical treatment. We are very pleased to have been awarded the contract.»

The leading referees and assistant referees will also benefit from a «Referee Healthline» set up especially for them. By telephone, they receive individual medical care around the clock, 365 days a year, as well as professional support in choosing specialists and making appointments.

But Hirslanden and Medbase will also be present directly on and off the pitch in future and will focus even more on the health of the referees. A sports doctor, physiotherapists and masseurs will be on site at training camps and courses. «These services will give referees and their assistants security and peace of mind so that they can concentrate fully on their own performance,» explains Rolf Bossert, Regional Manager at Medbase.

About the Swiss Football Association (SFV)

The Swiss Football Association (SFV) is the umbrella organisation for football in Switzerland. The association was founded in 1895. In 1904, it became one of seven national associations to establish FIFA, the International Federation of Association Football. Today, the SFV is one of the most important sports associations in Switzerland. The SFV is divided into three divisions and comprises 1 351 clubs, 14 665 teams, 4 500 referees, 278 929 licensed players from 179 countries, more than 28 000 qualified trainers and more than 52 000 volunteers. The association is based in Muri bei Bern; Dominique Blanc has been President since 1 July 2019.

About the Medbase Group

The Medbase Group operates more than 150 medical, pharmaceutical and dental facilities in Switzerland, making it the leading service provider for integrated outpatient medicine. Some 3 200 employees provide patients with holistic healthcare services ranging from preventive treatment to acute medical care and rehabilitation. Within the Group, more than 400 family doctors and medical specialists, 360 therapists and 170 pharmacists as well as approximately 340 dentists and specialists in orthodontics, implants and dental hygiene collaborate in a coordinated, interprofessional manner. Medbase Corporate Health offers specialised advisory services and holistic occupational health management for companies. At its 12 sports medical centres, Medbase supports and treats both amateur and elite sportspeople. Medbase is also conscious of the future staffing needs of the healthcare sector and is training some 330 young men and women.

About Hirslanden

Together with private and public cooperation partners, the Hirslanden Group is concentrating on the Continuum of Care and the promotion of high-quality, responsible, efficient, integrated health care that is self-determined by the individual. Hirslanden is synonymous with first-class medical care provided by highly qualified medical specialists with many years of experience. As a system provider, the Group stands out from the rest of the market: interdisciplinary medical centres of expertise, and specialised institutes enable it to offer the best possible individualised treatment even in highly complex cases.

The Hirslanden Group operates 17 hospitals in 10 cantons, many of which have an emergency department. It also operates 4 outpatient surgical units, 17 radiology institutes and 5 radiotherapy institutes. The Group has 2,314 partner doctors and 10,711 employees, 479 of whom are permanently employed doctors. Hirslanden is the largest medical network in Switzerland. In the 2020/21 financial year, the Group generated a turnover of CHF 1,796 million (including CHF 12.6 million in cantonal COVID-19 compensation payments). As at 31 March 2021, the Group had treated 107,401 patients for a total of 461,004 inpatient days. In insurance terms, the patient mix consists of 51 % basic, 28.8 % semi-private, and 20.2 % private insured patients. The Hirslanden Group was formed in 1990 through the merger of several hospitals. Since 2007, it has been part of the international hospital group Mediclinic International plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange.