Study on osteopathy in Switzerland.
Between Regulation and Uncertainty
A quantitative survey on the situation of around a third of osteopaths in Switzerland with no or difficult access to a licence to practise
Many osteopaths in Switzerland do not have access to a licence to practise. Their experiences, perspectives and needs have hardly been recognised to date. This survey aims to change that.
Your voice counts. Help make the professional reality visible and create a solid database for the future.
Background
In Switzerland, around 1,461 osteopaths are currently registered in the Health Professions Register. They fulfil the requirements for a cantonal licence to practise in accordance with the Health Professions Act.
In addition, there is an estimated group of 700-1,000 qualified osteopaths who do not have a GDK-recognised diploma or an MSc from a Swiss university of applied sciences. For this group, the transitional provisions under federal law ended on 1 February 2025.
Since then, depending on cantonal regulations, they have only been allowed to carry out their activities as employees and under supervision or not at all. In some cantons, these restrictions have been in place for some time.
This situation affects a significant proportion of practising osteopaths - their perspectives are to be systematically recorded for the first time in this survey.
Target group & Participation
This survey is aimed at osteopaths in Switzerland who have no or difficult access to a licence to practise.
The following are specifically eligible to participate:
• Osteopaths without GDK diploma
• Osteopaths without an MSc FH in Osteopathy (no degree from a Swiss university of applied sciences)
• Osteopaths whose SRC recognition is missing or has not yet been completed
• Osteopaths who are currently undergoing compensatory measures as part of an ongoing SRC procedure
Do you fulfil the requirements and have not yet received an invitation to participate in the questionnaire?
Your personal data will be treated confidentially. The survey is anonymous and the answers cannot be traced back to you.
Contact & study context
This survey is part of a master thesis within the MSc Osteopathy programme of the AIMO - Accademia Italiana di Medicina Osteopatica (HSU- accredited programme).
The study project is currently in the process of being approved by AIMO's internal ethics committee.
Contact for queries:
Michael Kramer
studie@osteopathie2025.ch
Yes, I would like to take part in the survey
I fulfil the target group criteria and would like to receive an invitation link to the survey. It may take several days to check your registration.
