Swiss doctor retires after 40 years rather than adopt TARDOC billing

After nearly four decades in medicine, Armin Koch has closed his practice in Sarnen for good. The 68-year-old physician, known for his expertise in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, decided to retire rather than adjust to Switzerland's new TARDOC billing system. His career took him from ski slopes to Sri Lanka before settling into a lifelong belief in the body's natural healing power.

Koch's path to medicine began after his father suffered a stroke. Though he initially trained as a secondary school teacher and worked as a ski instructor, he eventually followed his father's footsteps into healthcare. His fascination with acupuncture led him to Sri Lanka, where he completed specialised training with his wife and young child.

For years, Koch ran his practice in canton Obwalden, blending conventional treatments with acupuncture. He often described his role as creating the right conditions for healing—whether through needles or modern medicine. Patients occasionally discovered stray needles long after treatment, a quirk of his decades-long work.

The final push to retire came with the new TARDOC tariff, which replaced TARMED on 1 January 2026. While hospitals grappled with billing delays and liquidity issues for ambulatory services worth 13 billion CHF annually, Koch refused to adapt. The system's flat rates, classification uncertainties, and audit demands clashed with his approach. A week ago, he permanently shut his doors.

Koch leaves behind a career defined by his belief in the body's innate ability to heal. His decision highlights the challenges smaller practices face under TARDOC, where compliance often means abandoning long-held methods. The practice in Sarnen now stands empty, marking the end of an era for both the doctor and his patients.