Healthcare in a second language

The healthcare system of the canton operates in German, but it has adapted to the international population. Many doctors and nurses in the hospitals and clinics of the region speak English. International patients in the towns of Zug and Baar can usually find a general practitioner who treats them in English. The compulsory health insurance, which every resident must take out within three months of arrival, works in German, French and Italian. Some insurers provide information and customer service in English.

The experience of healthcare shows how English has spread into the local service economy without becoming official. Patients who speak English can usually be treated in English, but the forms, the insurance documents and the formal communications remain in German. In serious cases, the language barrier can create risks, and hospitals use interpreters where necessary. For the international community, the quality of healthcare in English is one of the factors that make Zug an acceptable place to live.

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of September 2025.

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I am a Swiss attorney-at-law and also admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and in England & Wales, with almost 25 years of experience.

Together with my multilingual team, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian and French native speakers, I advise companies and their owners from around the world on the full range of banking, corporate, commercial and tax law matters in Switzerland, including international tax planning, fiduciary services, and legal family office services including immigration & relocation or real estate investments. My practice has a particular focus on clients from growth and frontier markets in Greater China, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, and I equally advise clients from Europe and North America. Through an affiliated Swiss trust company, we also take care of the incorporation and ongoing administration of their companies and other structures, including accounting, tax returns and corporate secretarial services, and I serve as a professional director where required. With the support of a network of first-class cooperation partners, I also implement solutions worldwide.

My approach is to act as a trusted advisor who works directly with decision-makers, on an equal footing: I start from what you want to achieve and shape every structure, contract and tax decision around your commercial goals and how it improves your after-tax return. As “lawyers who make it happen”, my team and I stay involved until your company is set up, your structure is in place and your transaction has closed, and we remain available for any follow-on work that may be required. You benefit from bespoke solutions and personal attention, and sound, friendly and practical advice. We are not the lowest-cost provider in the market, nor do we intend to be; our aim is to deliver well-founded, proper solutions and excellent value for money.

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