The Swiss Regulation for the Specializations of Cytopathology and Gynecocytology

Abstract

The Swiss regulation for professional admission as a cytopathologist or gynecocytologist corresponds largely to those valid in Austria. In 1977, the Federal Council of Switzerland instructed the Federal Office of Social Insurance to reorganize the admission of cytologie laboratories to public health insurance. The following regulations were presented, but they are still at the prelegislative stage:

• 1 The laboratory must work under the professional direction and immediate surveillance of a scientifically trained and approved specialist; it has to be adequately staffed and equipped with the necessary instruments.

• 2 The director of the laboratory must document his/her professional training in the respective specialization. Admission to special training is open to physicians, pharmacists, veterinarians, and other persons with a diploma in scientific studies.

• 3 The quality of analytic performance in these laboratories must be ensured by controls at regular intervals. Every registered laboratory must be subjected to unexpected checking by the control institution at least once per year. The Federal Office nominates the qualified control institutions after proposal by the professional societies involved and defines their specific tasks and activities.