PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a 28-day course of emergency HIV medication. It must be started within 72 hours of a high-risk exposure (e.g., a condom break with a partner of unknown status), but the sooner you start it, the more effective it is. In Switzerland, it is covered by LAMal insurance, but subject to your franchise and copayment.
🚨 Where to Go Right Now
Do not wait for a convenient appointment. Your route depends entirely on the time of day.
| Time / Day | Where to Go | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Anytime | Notfall / Urgences at a University Hospital | 24/7 capacity. On-call infectious disease teams will initiate PEP immediately. |
| Outside Major Cities | Cantonal / Regional Hospital Emergency Dept | All major hospitals carry PEP medication. |
Major University Hospitals
- Zürich: USZ (Rämistrasse 100)
- Geneva: HUG (Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4)
- Lausanne: CHUV (Rue du Bugnon 46)
- Bern: Inselspital (Freiburgstrasse 18)
- Basel: Universitätsspital Basel / USB (Petersgraben 4)
Do not go to your Hausarzt / médecin de famille (GP). Family doctors cannot prescribe PEP or access the medication. They will redirect you, wasting critical hours.
🗣️ Navigating Triage
Be specific. Don't minimise. This is a medical emergency and you need to communicate urgency clearly.
- Use the terminology (German): "Ich hatte eine sexuelle Hochrisiko-Exposition für HIV und brauche Post-Expositionsprophylaxe."
- Use the terminology (French): "J'ai eu une exposition sexuelle à haut risque pour le VIH et j'ai besoin d'une prophylaxie post-exposition."
- State the timeline: "Es war vor [X] Stunden / Il y a [X] heures."
- Be direct about the exposure: State exactly what happened (e.g., receptive anal sex without a condom).
The Starter Pack: The emergency team will typically provide the first few days of PEP. The follow-up is mandatory. Before your pack runs out, you must book a follow-up with an infectious disease specialist (hospital or SwissPrEPared Checkpoint) to complete the 28-day course.
💊 The Medication: What to Expect
The standard Swiss PEP regimen usually consists of Truvada (or a generic equivalent) taken alongside either raltegravir or dolutegravir (Tivicay).
- It is a strict regimen: PEP is not a morning-after pill. It is a mandatory 28-day course, and you cannot miss doses.
- Side effects are manageable: You may experience nausea, fatigue, or diarrhea, though not everyone does. The clinic will often prescribe anti-sickness medication alongside your PEP.
- Do not stop: Never stop taking PEP without speaking to a doctor first.
💶 Cost
Switzerland's system gets complicated based on insurance classification:
- "Accident" (Unfall/accident): If covered by accident insurance (e.g., condom break), it has a lower or zero deductible. You can ask: "Kann dies als Unfall eingestuft werden?"
- "Illness" (Krankheit/maladie): The standard classification. Your full LAMal franchise applies, which could mean a bill of several hundred CHF.
- EU/EEA visitors with EHIC: Present your card. Coverage varies by country of origin.
- Non-residents: You will be treated. Bill management can be addressed later. Do not let cost delay you.
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