Cantonal physician (Kantonsärzt:in)

According to the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG), cantonal physicians (Kantonsärzt:innen) supervise compliance with the medical duty of care and can, in extreme cases, withdraw a licence to practise (BAG FAQ on cannabis medicines). The relevant provisions are Art. 12 BetmG (withdrawal of powers) and Art. 41 MedBG (cantonal supervisory authority).

What the supervision covers

• Duty of care: cantonal physicians supervise whether physicians comply with the medical duty of care (BAG FAQ on cannabis medicines).
• Licence to practise: in extreme cases, they can withdraw it (BAG FAQ on cannabis medicines).
• Powers under the Narcotics Act: their withdrawal is governed by Art. 12 BetmG (Entzug der Befugnisse).
• Cantonal restrictions: within their enforcement powers, the cantons can restrict the use of medicines exempt from authorisation, that is, medicines that need no marketing authorisation from Swissmedic (BAG FAQ on cannabis medicines).
• Prescription pads: narcotics prescription pads are issued only to physicians with a valid licence to practise and activity in the canton. This rule comes from a position paper of the cantonal pharmacists (KAV position paper 0025, section 7).

Where patients meet it

The supervision concerns the physicians who treat patients: their compliance with the medical duty of care and their licence to practise, on which access to narcotics prescription pads also depends (BAG FAQ on cannabis medicines; KAV position paper 0025, section 7). The licence itself is explained under licence to practise, the cantonal office for pharmacies and medicines under cantonal pharmacist. Who may prescribe narcotics is explained in who may prescribe, and an overview of supervision in who supervises prescriptions.