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Teleconsultation in Switzerland: legal guide for therapists

Published March 29, 2026 · 8 min read

Teleconsultation has established itself in the Swiss therapeutic landscape, accelerated by the pandemic but above all supported by growing patient demand. However, practicing remotely raises legal, technical, and ethical questions that every therapist must master.

This guide covers the legal framework applicable in 2026, data protection requirements, insurance coverage, compliant tools, and consent best practices.

The Swiss legal framework

In Switzerland, there is no specific law for therapeutic teleconsultation. The framework is based on several texts:

  • The Code of Obligations (CO) governs the contractual relationship between therapist and patient, including remotely
  • The Health Professions Act (LPSan) imposes a duty of diligence, whether the consultation is in person or remote
  • The new Data Protection Act (nLPD, RS 235.1), in force since September 1, 2023, imposes enhanced requirements for health data
  • Cantonal directives vary by canton — some require specific authorization for tele-practice

Important point: teleconsultation does not change your professional obligations. The duty of diligence, professional secrecy, and documentation rules apply in the same way as in the office.

Data protection: nLPD requirements

Health data is considered «sensitive data requiring enhanced protection» under art. 5 let. c nLPD. In teleconsultation, this means:

Communication encryption

Any platform used must offer end-to-end encryption. Consumer tools like WhatsApp, Zoom (free version), or Skype pose problems for health data: data processing outside Switzerland (USA), absence of a compliant processing agreement (DPA), no medical logging, and metadata exposure — even if some (like WhatsApp) offer E2E encryption.

Hosting in Switzerland

The nLPD authorizes transfers to countries offering an adequate level of protection. However, for health data, hosting in Switzerland remains the safest recommendation.

Register of processing activities

Art. 12 nLPD requires a register for businesses processing sensitive data at scale. In practice, any therapist regularly processing health data should maintain one.

Impact assessment

If you use new technologies (AI, automatic recording), a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) may be required (art. 22 nLPD).

Insurance coverage

Supplementary insurance (LCA — Tarif 590)

Most supplementary insurers recognize teleconsultations under certain conditions:

  • The therapist is ASCA or RME recognized
  • The discipline is suitable for remote practice (sophrology: yes; osteopathy: no)
  • The invoice is compliant with Tarif 590 including DataMatrix and QR-Invoice
  • Patient consent is documented

LAMal (PsyTarif 581/582 — psychologists)

Psychologist-psychotherapists billing under PsyTarif 581 (LAMal) or 582 (LAA/LAI/LAM) can conduct teleconsultations under medical prescription. The proportion of teleconsultations must be clinically justified; some insurers apply internal limits (check with your insurer).

Compliant tools

For a compliant teleconsultation in Switzerland, your tool must meet these criteria:

  • End-to-end encryption of audio/video communications
  • Data hosting in Switzerland or in a country recognized by the Federal Council
  • No automatic recording without explicit consent
  • Secure authentication of patient and therapist
  • GDPR/nLPD compliance documented

Among suitable solutions: Swisscom Health, HIN (Swiss health network), or solutions integrated into your practice management software.

Patient consent

Before any teleconsultation, you must obtain informed consent from the patient. This consent must cover:

  1. The nature of the consultation — the patient understands it is a remote consultation
  2. The limitations — certain assessments are not possible remotely
  3. Confidentiality — the measures taken to protect their data
  4. Recording — if the session is recorded (explicit consent only)
  5. Right of refusal — the patient can request an in-person consultation at any time

This consent can be collected electronically (digital signature, checkbox with timestamp) but must be archived.

Best practices

  • Verify the patient's identity at the start of the session (ID document if first consultation)
  • Ensure both parties have a stable connection
  • Have a backup plan (telephone) in case of technical issues
  • Document the session in the same way as in the office
  • Inform the patient of the procedure to follow in case of emergency
  • Keep proof of consent

Teleconsultation billing

Billing follows the same rules as an in-office consultation: Tarif 590 with the tariff code of your discipline, compliant DataMatrix, QR-Invoice per SIX Group standards. Indicating the nature of the consultation (in-person/remote) is recommended.

Therago and teleconsultation

Therago helps you manage the administrative side of your teleconsultations: compliant Tarif 590 billing, digital consent management, session notes via voice dictation, and payment tracking. All data is encrypted and hosted in Switzerland (Geneva), in compliance with the nLPD.

Do you offer teleconsultations? Therago simplifies your administration.

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No credit card required. Data hosted in Switzerland.

Teleconsultation in Switzerland: legal guide for therapists | Therago