Victim in Swiss cable car crash is identified; the plan for the 50-franc fee for unreferred visits to the hospital emergency wards makes headway; and other news in our roundup this Thursday.
Victim in the cable car crash identified
Police said that the person who died when a cable car fell and tumbled to the ground in Engelberg on Wednesday was a 61-year-old woman who lived in the area.
She was alone in the cabin designed for eight people.
The investigation has been opened to find out whether anything other than gale-force winds that had rocked the cabin caused the accident.
The plan for the 50-franc fee for unreferred visits to the ER is making headway
Though has been moving forward very slowly, the push toward the 50-franc fee for unreferred visits to the emergency room is gaining momentum at the legislative level.
On Wednesday, the National Council has narrowly approved, by 96 votes to 91, a bill to introduce a tax aimed at discouraging people from going to the hospital for minor ailments.
Those in favour argue that the project does not close access to the emergency medical services to those who truly need it.
“Someone who is truly in distress isn’t going to wait to seek help,” said MP Cyril Aellen from the Liberal-Radical Party. “However. the ER should not be a one-stop shop but should remain a place for genuine emergencies.”
READ MORE: Switzerland’s 50-franc fee for emergency hospital visits moves step closer
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The National Council deputies also made another decision on Wednesday…
After a lengthy debate, deputies rejected an initiative that aims to ban foie gras imports into Switzerland on the grounds of the inhumane treatment of animals from which this product is derived.
They proposed a less drastic alternative instead.
An outright ban “would be incompatible with Switzerland’s international trade commitments,” said deputy Estelle Revaz, proposing instead that Swiss consumers should decide for themselves whether or not they want to continue buying this product.
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SWISS cancels US-bound flights this summer
Just in time for the busy peak-travel summer season, Switzerland’s airline is cutting 326 of its flights.
Those from Zurich to Chicago and to Shanghai, whose frequency will be reduced, are most concerned by this move.
The reason for these cuts is a shortage of pilots and aircraft.
Specifically, the airline is short of captains and first officers for the Airbus A320 and A321, as well as the A330 and A340, because many are retraining to fly the new Airbus A350.
In addition, 11 aircraft are grounded due to engine problems, which makes operational planning all the more difficult.
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