The leading Swiss university hospital group

HUG was created in 1995, and is part of a tradition of excellence in medicine and science dating back hundreds of years. The Geneva University Hospitals are the largest university hospital in Switzerland, regrouping the eight public hospitals in Geneva and, since 1 July 2016, two clinics (Joli-Mont and Crans-Montana). They also have 30 outpatient clinics throughout the canton of Geneva.

Cutting-Edge Medicine
HUG's work is recognized nationally and internationally in many cutting-edge disciplines:

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Complex disorders in childhood and adolescence
  • Liver/pancreatic diseases and diabetes
  • Musculoskeletal medicine and sports medicine
  • Genetic medicine
  • Neurosciences
  • Oncology

Many talents

HUG leads the way in medical imaging and has also spearheaded the development of robot-assisted and minimally-invasive surgery (FR). HUG is also the national referral paediatric liver Center and pediatric liver transplantation and for influenza and emerging viral infections. HUG has the only high-security diagnostic laboratory (level 4 ) FR in Switzerland.

Main areas of expertise

  • Hearing implants
  • Cardiac surgery
  • Screening for genetic predisposition to cancer
  • Ophthalmology (retinal implants)
  • Deep brain stimulation
  • Surgical treatment for epilepsy
  • Treatment for some types of diabetes using pancreatic islet transplantation
  • Transplantation (liver, kidney, pancreas, pancreatic islet)
  • Trisomy 21

An international outlook

HUG’s geographical location predisposes us to openness and contributes to Geneva's international outlook. Our hospital group works closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), and awarded HUG with referral center status in six areas.

HUG-WHO Centers

  • e-Health and Telemedicine
  • Therapeutic Education
  • Research and Education of Mental Health
  • Patient Safety and Prevention of Infection
  • Vaccines
  • Humanitarian Medicine and Disaster Management

HUG's international cooperation work is demonstrated with 70 agreements involving over 30 other countries. HUG also works regularly with organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit, Swiss Rescue, Médecins sans Frontières, Terre des Hommes, Children Action and Sentinelles.

Read more about The humanitarian commitment and international cooperation of the HUG

The hospital group also promotes global access to care and patient safety at two international conferences, arranged on alternate years:

Last update : 24/10/2023