[Surgery in the regional and district hospitals of German Switzerland].

The Regional Hospital is the hub in the surgical service for the broad population. According to its importance, it has furthermore an eminent role in instruction and postgraduate teaching. The requirements and profile for such competent medical chiefs are delineated. The broad surgical requirements, the executive duties in hospital administration, which are shared with the nursing and administration services, and the permanent personal education make it mandatory, that the position of the head surgeon be partitioned by two equally competent and polyvalent general surgeons. The ultimate responsibility for such adequate positioning rests with the political authority.