Temporary work in healthcare is about more than economics. It secures care.

Statement by David Paulou, Director at Medicalis, on the Swiss Economics report “Economic Assessment of Temporary Work in Hospitals” and the current ruling by the Swiss Competition Commission (COMCO).

Temporary work is not a cost problem. It is part of the solution.

The debate around temporary work in healthcare has, in recent months, often been conducted in emotional terms, marked by rigid fronts and sweeping claims. The study commissioned by swissstaffing and carried out by Swiss Economics now brings urgently needed facts into the discussion: the targeted use of temporary nursing professionals is not only necessary but, in many cases, the more cost-effective solution compared to overtime, in-house flex pools, or the deliberate acceptance of care gaps.

At the same time, COMCO – in connection with the complaint filed by swissstaffing against the Association of Zurich Hospitals – confirmed that the blanket rejection of temporary work was problematic under competition law. This assessment will now be incorporated into a code of conduct for the labor market. The message is clear: temporary work is not the problem but rather an efficient and cost-controlling instrument that contributes significantly to stability and security of care in the healthcare system.

But it is not only about costs. It is about people.

Temporary work in healthcare often suffers from a negative public image: expensive, unstable, or even unethical. Yet these sweeping criticisms do not reflect the reality in hospitals. Temporary staff are used where other models have long reached their limits – in cases of absences, shortages, or sudden workload peaks. They make it possible to keep beds open, perform scheduled procedures, and relieve permanent staff. All of these are central conditions for safe and reliable patient care.

The study makes it clear: if such gaps must be bridged through overtime or short-term internal solutions, costs rise and the quality of care declines. The reason is obvious: when internal staff are permanently overburdened, the risk of burnout increases, work quality decreases, and turnover accelerates. Already today, turnover among nursing staff is around 30% – a figure that generates enormous costs for hospitals.

This is exactly where temporary work acts as a buffer. Through targeted, efficient, and sustainable investment in temporary nursing staff, overload and attrition can be reduced. This, in turn, lowers turnover costs, stabilizes teams, and increases institutional returns. Above all, patients benefit from consistently high quality of care – because nursing teams can work with relief instead of at the breaking point. That is why temporary work provides stability. For the system. For the teams. For the patients.

What we see every day confirms the analysis.

As the largest specialized personnel service provider in healthcare, Medicalis has supported more than 3,000 professionals and over 350 institutions every year for over 15 years. Our role is not to replace existing structures but to step in where care is at risk. The fact that we coordinate several hundred short-term requests every day is not a sign of poor planning but a mirror of the reality in Swiss healthcare.

Temporary work is not displacement, but complement.

Around two percent of nursing staff in Switzerland work on a temporary basis. The vast majority do so deliberately – for greater flexibility in scheduling, better planning, more autonomy, or because their life model does not fit traditional shift structures. These professionals are covered by collective agreements, receive training, are fully insured, and often bring substantial experience.

Without this option, many would leave the profession altogether. International comparisons show: restricting temporary work does not lead to more permanent positions, but to less staff overall and, ultimately, reduced care capacity. The key point is this: temporary work makes professionals available to hospitals who would otherwise not be accessible at all – similar to a personnel pool. Many of these nurses remain in the profession only because of the autonomy and flexibility offered. In this way, an additional segment of skilled staff is tapped, which is indispensable for care security.

Flexibility creates stability. For everyone involved.

Temporary work does not replace permanent teams. It supplements them where staffing levels alone are insufficient to cope with daily demands. It absorbs peaks, prevents overload, reduces opportunity costs caused by absences, and measurably contributes to care security. Those who seek to restrict it across the board risk achieving the exact opposite of what is needed: economic viability, healthy working conditions, and continuous care quality.

What is needed now: honesty, not symbolic politics.

The facts are on the table. The reality in hospitals is complex and cannot be managed with simple slogans or blanket bans. Temporary work is part of today’s care practice in healthcare. Not as a fallback, but as a permanent element of a professional, flexible, and patient-centered staffing strategy.

About Medicalis

Medicalis is Switzerland’s specialist in personnel services for the healthcare and social sector. For over 15 years, the company has supported hospitals, nursing homes, home care organizations, and social institutions in attracting qualified professionals. With six branches, more than 3,000 active talents, and the certified Medicalis Academy, Medicalis offers tailored solutions – from permanent and temporary placements to payrolling and on-site services, as well as coaching and training. As part of the Interiman Group, Medicalis pursues a clear mission: to secure continuity of care, improve quality, and help shape a healthcare system that is truly people-centered.