Switzerland has announced plans to bill Italy for the medical expenses incurred in treating Italian nationals injured in the New Year's Eve fire at the Crans-Montana ski resort, which tragically claimed 41 lives. The decision, confirmed by the Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO) late on Saturday, has further strained diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries.
FSIO Confirms Reimbursement Plans
The FSIO stated that under existing agreements between Switzerland and European Union member states, the victims would receive invoices solely for verification purposes. The actual costs would be charged to the relevant foreign health insurer. In Italy's case, this would be the Italian Health Ministry. The office emphasized that families of the victims would not be directly billed.
Italy's Prime Minister Reacts Strongly
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the move as "disgraceful" in a Facebook post on Friday, following reports that families had been billed. She declared, "Should this disgraceful request be made formally, I hereby announce that Italy will reject it outright and will not act upon it in any way." Meloni expressed hope that the report would prove unfounded, trusting in the Swiss authorities' sense of responsibility.
Details of the Cost Claim
According to Italian Ambassador to Switzerland Gian Lorenzo Cornado, cited by news agency ANSA on Saturday, Switzerland is seeking over 100,000 Swiss francs (approximately $127,000) in refunds for four Italian nationals treated for just one day at the Sion hospital following the blaze. Cornado highlighted the disparity, noting that Swiss patients injured in the same fire have been treated for months at the Niguarda hospital in Milan, northern Italy, at no cost to Switzerland. He also pointed out that Italy dispatched a civil protection helicopter to assist in rescue operations without requesting any payment.
Diplomatic Tensions Rise
The reimbursement claim adds to existing strains between Switzerland and Italy, with the latter viewing the demand as insensitive given the scale of the tragedy. The Crans-Montana fire, which occurred on New Year's Eve, remains one of the deadliest incidents in the region's history, prompting an outpouring of international support. The dispute over medical costs threatens to overshadow cooperative efforts in disaster response and cross-border healthcare.
