Zur Situation des 3-Säulen-Prinzipes in der Frauenheilkunde : Ein Schweizer Kommentar (In der Diskussion)

The conclusion to be drawn from the evolution of the field of “reproductive medicine and gynaecological endocrinology” in the last 30 years in Switzerland is a positive one: within the Swiss Medical Faculties, the “principle of the three pillars” gynaecology/obstetrics/reproductive medicine and gynaecological endocrinology has been introduced with success and has proved itself. With the acceptance of the new guidelines of the postgraduate education of gynaecologists and obstetricians, including the subspecialty reproductive medicine and gynaecological endocrinology, and with the firm establishment of this subspecialty in all university clinics, this “principle of the three pillars” can be considered to definitely accepted. Today, all medical faculties possess a division (or clinic) of reproductive medicine and gynaecological endocrinology. All these divisions have their own budgets and their own research programme. The main remaining problem is the insufficient number of young specialists. However, in Switzerland, this problem is common to all fields within medicine. It is the consequence of a planning error made by the Swiss State. The main reasons for this difficult situation are: (1) an unnecessary numerus clausus for the admission to the medical schools, (2) the (in itself justified) reduction of the maximal working hours for hospital doctors without sufficient compensation by the creation of new jobs and (3) an increased demand for part-time jobs, linked to an increased attraction of our speciality for female doctors.