For years, there has existed a partnership between the Vontobel Foundation and the Zurich Children's Hospital to support the medical care of critically ill children. In 2023 and 2024, the Foundation supported the “Kispi” (as the hospital is known locally) with a contribution towards the construction of the Children's Hospital’s new building.
Over its 150-year history, the University Children's Hospital in Zurich (“Kispi”) has evolved into the leading center for pediatric and adolescent medicine in Switzerland, with a reputation extending far beyond the country's borders. It employs a staff of around 3,000, has a capacity of approximately 200 beds, and treats over 100,000 patients every year. Under the auspices of the university, it also trains doctors and nurses in pediatric medicine and surgery. Thanks to its own research department, the Kispi is a pioneer in pediatrics.
For decades, however, the hospital has struggled with cramped conditions as the number of patients has steadily grown, with makeshift solutions shaping the hospital's day-to-day functioning. To alleviate this situation, a new Children's Hospital is being built, set to be completed by November 2024, where the child patient and his or her family will be the focus of all considerations and processes. The new Kispi will consist of two buildings: the new acute hospital and the “Round Tower” for research and teaching. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in 2018, and the move-in is scheduled for autumn 2024.
The new Children's Hospital will not only offer state-of-the-art medical practice but also be a place of comfort and peace for these young patients and their families.
The hospital is neither state-owned nor part of the University Hospital. Instead, it is operated by the private Eleonore Foundation, which is responsible for financing the new building. A significant portion of the costs was covered by the foundation through loans, construction credits, and bonds. For the remaining amount, the Children's Hospital relied on support from the public and society.
“The new building is groundbreaking not only for the Zurich Children's Hospital but also for pediatric medicine throughout Switzerland."
Prof . Dr. Michael Grotzer, Medical Director, Children's Hospital Zurich
"The Kispi’s new building was an urgent necessity and a unique opportunity – also for Switzerland as a center of research."
Dr. Hans Dieter Vontobel, President of the Board, Vontobel Foundation