Information on the current ISFM/SIWF delays

The ISFM-SIWF is delegated by the FMH to organise the postgraduate and continuous medical education in Switzerland. Among other duties, it is responsible for the accreditation of training programs, recognition of postgraduate training centers, the e-Logbook and validation of speciality titles. 

Over the last three years, organisational problems at the ISFM-SIWF resulted in exponentially growing delays in obtaining FMH specialist title. Many trainees now wait up to 1 year to get their FMH title, despite having fulfilled all requirements,  endured years of effort and still having to pay the non-negligible fee of 4’000 chf. This has significant negative impacts on career advancement and life planning, blocking access to senior positions and academic advancement like fellowships or the establishment of one’s own practice, with a significant loss of salary.

For psychiatry trainees, the situation can be even more burdensome. Our training program entails a variety of additional criterias that have to be accounted for. As some of those criterias are not well described in the training program, this results in differing interpretations from the ISFM-SIWF and our supervisors, or sometimes between ISFM-SIWF workers too! 

The lack of clear communication about changes in the training program and the e-Logbook, as well as the lack of answers from the ISFM/SIWF to requests from trainees contribute to confusion and anxiety around our post-graduate training. Furthermore, this situation endangers the epistemic trust in the systems that are supposed to overview and support our training. In the context of the current lack of medical professionals and discouragement in the profession, this cannot be accepted. 

In the last month, the tensions around this situation has heightened, with more and more trainees waiting without information for their specialist title. This critical issue was even reported on by national media [Blick (06.05.2025)]. Beyond the organisational problems and lack of workforce at the ISFM-SIWF to process the title request submissions, governance problems and the lack of transparent communication from the ISFM-SIWF has been pointed out. 

The VSAO-ASMAC has been at the forefront of the efforts to address this pressing issue. Recently (5th June), their motion was accepted by the FMH medical chamber to require the ISFM/SIWF to give priority to the title requests and present an action plan to reduce the processing of title validation to 90 days until January 2026.

The SVPA-ASMAP-ASAP has been following the situation closely and is in active contact with the VSAO-ASMAC and the SGPP-SSPP. We also took contact with the ISFM-SIWF to put forward the additional problems encountered by psychiatric trainees and offer our collaboration in their resolution. 

The SVPA-ASMAP also provides a comprehensible overview of the training program for adult psychiatry on our website. We aim to identify unanswered or hard to answer questions about the training program and publish a Frequently Asked Question. Your collaboration is highly welcome as we are not aware of every situation. 

You can send your questions (already answered or still unanswered) through our contact module.

I’m waiting for my title since 1 year, what should I do?

• Unfortunately, at the moment we cannot accelerate the process; measures are being taken to improve the workflow and new secretaries at the ISFM-SIWF are in training to process the title requests.
• You can request a “priority processing” at the ISFM-SIWF if your need to obtain your title quickly to enter a position or honor an already signed contract
• You can take contact with the local or national ASMAC-VSAO, your hospital or your specialty association to signal your situation and ask them to contribute to the resolution of the ISFM-SIWF problem
• You can inform us of any unresolved issue/problem or unanswered questions, that may help the next trainee in your position

I’m starting or currently undergoing my training, what should I do?

• Don’t panic! You have have a long way to go and hopefully this issue will be resolved until then.
• Read the training program carefully to ensure you are taking all the needed criteria into consideration while planning your rotations
• Fill your logbook and validate every training period with a certificate regularly (at least once a year)
• You can contact us for any question and consult our comprehensive overview of the training program
• Before asking your title, make sure you complied with all the needed criterias!
• You can attend our Logbook workshop at the Pre-Congress on the 17th Septembre in Basel to learn the tips and tricks to look our for and optimise your training journey

We are here to offer guidance and support to psychiatric trainees all over Switzerland and advocate for equal and fair training conditions. Join our network today to stay updated about our activities and the resolution of the ISFM-SIWF situation.

Violette Corre

SVPA-ASMAP-ASAP President