Health in Liechtenstein

The Amt für Gesundheit supervises healthcare, licenses providers, supports public health and coordinates hospital contracts. People may freely choose a recognized health insurer, but OKP reimbursement generally requires treatment from an OKP-approved provider. A provider may hold a professional permit without being approved to bill OKP, so the billing status should be checked before outpatient treatment. Hospital coverage depends on the relevant contract or hospital list, including arrangements in Liechtenstein and neighbouring Switzerland or Austria. The Landesspital Liechtenstein provides 24-hour emergency care throughout the year, as well as general inpatient and outpatient treatment, internal medicine, surgery, orthopaedics and trauma care, nursing and therapy. The Liechtensteinisches Rotes Kreuz provides round-the-clock emergency services. Call 144 for an ambulance without a prefix or 112 for the European emergency number. Prevention is offered through the Amt für Gesundheit, municipalities, schools and workplaces. Children receive an invitation for preventive examinations after birth and at regular intervals. Adults aged 17 and over can use the voluntary gesund? preventive examination every five years, while women can additionally receive a gynaecological examination every two and a half years. The defined preventive scope is free; follow-up examinations and treatment follow the usual cost-sharing rules. Mammography is offered every two and a half years from age 50, or annually for people with increased risk. Doctors provide vaccinations according to the Swiss vaccination schedule for 2026. COVID-19 vaccination is available to interested people aged 12 and over, especially those over 65, pregnant people and people with chronic high-risk conditions. The electronic health dossier (eGD) is automatically provided to every person insured in Liechtenstein. Access takes place through eID.li and can include findings, laboratory results, X-rays, medicines and allergies. The patient controls access rights and can use opt-out, deletion or hiding functions. Registered healthcare professionals can open the dossier during an emergency without prior approval; every such access is recorded. Pharmacies and other healthcare professionals provide medicines, diagnostics and therapies, while the Amt für Gesundheit regulates medicines, medical devices and controlled substances. Approved medicines should be used and disposed of according to the applicable instructions. Mental health support includes information and assessment through the Psychiatrisch-Psychologischer Dienst (PPD), services for children and young people through the Kinder- und Jugenddienst (KJD), and addiction counselling for affected people and relatives. Some counselling is anonymous and free. Regional partners in Buchs, Sargans and Feldkirch supplement local services. Outpatient, partial-hospital and inpatient psychiatric care is arranged through suitable providers and contract hospitals in Liechtenstein, Switzerland or Austria. After hospital treatment or a serious illness, discharge coordination, rehabilitation and an updated eGD can support continuity of care. Familienhilfe Liechtenstein provides home-based nursing services, including somatic and psychiatric Spitex, medically ordered treatment nursing, basic care, wound care, diabetes care, dementia care and palliative care. The Liechtensteinische Alters- und Krankenhilfe (LAK) provides long-term care, nursing homes, transitional care and day or respite care. Patients can arrange an advance directive using the 2024 version available through the Ärztekammer or Hospizbewegung. Health professions require an authorization from the Amt für Gesundheit, and appeals against decisions of that authority generally must be submitted to the Government within 14 days.