Over 100,000 people in Switzerland have signed a petition to save specialist poisoning helpline called Tox Info, which risks closure if it can’t secure emergency state funding by the end of August.
The 24-hour helpline provides timely information, advice and support on poisoning emergencies to the general population, as well as healthcare professionals.
If the service disappeared – or was paused – there would be “disastrous consequences”, Tox Info said in a statement on Thursday.
Anyone who would usually call the 145 number, such as parents worried their child had ingested something poisonous or a relative’s tablets, for example, would instead have to travel to already-stretched emergency departments.
Tox Info provided over 40,000 consultations in 2024 with 40 percent of calls to the helpline concerning children under the age of five, the service said.
A quarter of inquiries to the service came from medical professionals.
The poison centre previously announced that without urgent additional funding, it could face closure in 2026.
It seems that many people in Switzerland are also worried about the impact the closure of the service could have as the petition has garnered over 100,000 signatures since it was launched at the beginning of July.
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And many have also added messages of support to an online ‘wall’ set up by the service.
“The poison control centre is vital! My nephew has very often put poisonous substances in his mouth; without this quick help [from the helpline], it would have been impossible to prevent worse consequences from occurring,” wrote Milena.
Medical professionals were also quick to support the work of the service.
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“As a doctor, I find it completely incomprehensible that this service should no longer exist. I can’t imagine how emergency department specialists would be able to access sufficient, specific information quickly enough in a poison emergency without this service – and still be able to meet the needs of all other patients!” wrote Irene Hertig.
Tox Info President Josef Widler said the number of signatures were a “clear” message to the Federal Department of Home Affairs to allocate the funds needed.
“Based on this demand, we now strongly invite the Federal Councillor responsible for the dossier to immediately discuss solutions for the future funding of Tox Info Suisse,” Widler said in the press release.
The petition specifically calls on Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider to provide the centre with CHF 1.1 million in emergency aid by the end of August to save it from closure.
Tox Info said that the current federal government funding only covers 10 percent of its costs and other contributions are not enough to cover its expenses.
The petition will be submitted after the summer.
