Reporting agencies

Since 1 January 2020 all persons or institutions that diagnose or treat cancer or a notifiable preliminary stage of a cancer are subject to reporting obligations. The collected basic and additional data to be reported are to be transmitted electronically or in writing to the competent registry within four weeks. The responsibility for the correct and timely notification lies with the self-employed doctor or with the medical management of the hospital or institution in question. This also simultaneously signifies the cessation of the previous frequent practice of direct, active data collection through the Cantonal Cancer Registry/Childhood Cancer Registry by the hospitals, medical profession or other institutions.

Doctors, who notify the diagnosis of a cancer subject to notification or its possible preliminary phase, are also responsible for the oral and written information for the afflicted patients about the cancer registration and their entitlement to the right to object. They have to record the date of this information and notify the competent cancer registry (The right to object by the afflicted patient may then be submitted in writing to a cantonal cancer registry.)

  • The Cancer Registration Act (CRA) took effect on 1 January 2020. This entails the following changes:

      • All cantons have a duty to participate in cancer registration.
      • All cancer diseases and their precursors are registered (except basal cell carcinoma of the skin and some entities with benign or unclear/unknown behaviour).
      • The patient must be informed about the cancer registration in written and oral form.
      • A patient can refuse registration. A patient must submit an objection in writing to one of the cancer registries.
      • The initial treatment modalities for all reportable cancer diseases are registered.
      • Selected accompanying diseases and predisposing factors for colorectal tumours, breast and prostate cancer are registered.
      • The cancer registries can no longer actively register information in hospitals and doctor`s practices. Instead, we rely on the support of these institutions . The latter have the duty to send the necessary documentation to the responsible registry.
      • All reports must be submitted within four weeks after the collection of the necessary documentation
  • New data are to be collected:
    • Date when the patient was informed on the cancer registration
    • AHV number
    • „New“ further relevant cancer information (see „What must be reported?“)

Important information at a glance

Fact sheets and auxiliary documents for notifiable diseases

Available in German, French and Italian