Facts and figures
Immerse yourself in some interesting facts and figures about the Swiss Paraplegic Group.
2,203
employees work for the Swiss Paraplegic Group.
73%
of Swiss Paraplegic Group employees are female.
47,969
hours are worked by Swiss Paraplegic Group volunteers annually throughout Switzerland.
The Swiss Paraplegic Group employs 192 apprentices and students, which corresponds to a training ratio of 8.7%. This makes it one of the largest apprenticeship providers in Central Switzerland.
Solidarity
Swiss Paraplegic Foundation
2 million
people are members of the Benefactors’ Association of the Swiss Paraplegic Foundation.
97.7 million
Swiss francs comes from contributions from members and donations.
33.2 million
Swiss francs go straight to people with a spinal cord injury in the form of benefactor benefits and financial direct aid.
The ParaForum Visitor Centre of the Swiss Paraplegic Foundation welcomes a total of 31,300 people. 18,200 of them explore the interactive exhibition, allowing them to learn more about everyday life in a wheelchair. 5,898 pupils took part in the special service for school classes in 2025. The young people talked directly to people living with a spinal cord injury, allowing them to gain an insight into spinal cord injuries and the work of the Swiss Paraplegic Group.
Effect of solidarity
Comprehensive rehabilitation helps smooth the path back to family, work, and society for people with paraplegia and tetraplegia. Everyone benefits from this – those living with spinal cord injuries and local communities.
Hotel & Conference Center Sempachersee
31,052
overnight stays were booked at Hotel & Conference Center Sempachersee in 2025.
56%
of the rooms were occupied in 2025. Occupancy rates are particularly high during the summer months due to tour groups.
4.7 million
Swiss francs of turnover was generated in 2025.
The Hotel & Conference Center Sempachersee is one of the five best conference hotels in Switzerland according to the “Swiss Location Award”. The facilities include 40 conference rooms, three outdoor platforms, two auditoriums, a hall and 150 hotel rooms.
Medicine
Swiss Paraplegic Centre
1,103
patients with spinal cord injuries receive inpatient treatment at the Swiss Paraplegic Centre.
63,513
contacts with patients take place at the Swiss Paraplegic Centre for outpatient follow-up care.
6.2
hours of care services are provided per day and person treated.
45% of patients in rehabilitation have paraplegia and 55% have tetraplegia. 75% of all people treated in initial rehabilitation are male. Accidents caused the spinal cord injury for 50% of patients in initial rehabilitation, with falls (40%), traffic (27%) and sport (24%) being the most common causes.
ParaHelp
1,331
clients throughout Switzerland were looked after by ParaHelp in 2025.
10
Tetra holiday weeks were supported by ParaHelp in 2025. A care management team and lay care staff supported people with a high level of paralysis living with a spinal cord injury.
8,820
hours of advice services were provided by ParaHelp in 2025.
ParaHelp supports people with spinal cord injuries through-out their lives with advice and training in preventing and dealing with complications caused by paralysis.
Education, research and innovation
Swiss Paraplegic Research
1.4 million
Swiss francs in research funding was raised by Swiss Paraplegic Research in 2025.
146
publications from Swiss Paraplegic Research employees have appeared in international specialist journals and specialist books.
38
dissertations were supported by Swiss Paraplegic Research in 2025.
The core competency of Swiss Paraplegic Research is comprehensive rehabilitation research into the interplay of physical, psychological, and social factors in the development and overcoming of disability.
SIRMED
14,281
people take part in SIRMED courses.
9,330
people got to grips with the topic of spinal column and spinal cord injuries in SIRMED seminars.
4.9
The recommendation rating was 4.90 out of 5.
The Swiss Institute of Emergency Medicine SIRMED is one of the market leading education and training providers in the areas of first aid as well as rescue and emergency medicine. Around 1,300 seminars take place. The packed course pro-gramme is organised and delivered by a permanent team of 40 people and 300 freelancers.
Integration and Lifelong Assistance
Swiss Paraplegics Association
22,822
hours of advice are provided by the Swiss Paraplegics Association in the areas of construction, law and everyday life, including social work.
201
travel arrangements for wheelchair users and accompanying people, including care management teams, are booked with the travel agency of the Swiss Paraplegics Association.
26
regional wheelchair clubs throughout Switzerland are supported by the Swiss Paraplegics Association.
The Swiss Paraplegics Association is the national umbrella organisation for people with spinal cord injuries and has around 11,000 members.
Orthotec
664
new rehabilitation technology devices were provided by the counsellors and mechanics from Orthotec.
207
vehicles are converted for people with physical disabilities.
604
tailor-made new aids are produced by the Orthopaedic Technology team, such as orthoses or seating and back shells for wheelchairs.
Orthotec offers aids and services that promote freedom of movement for people with a spinal cord injury and similar restrictions. Around 100 employees work in the five areas of expertise: vehicle adaptation; rehabilitation technology; orthopaedic technology; incontinence products and daily living aids; and wheelchair sports.
Active Communication
2,315
clients are supported with comprehensive services from Active Communication.
39,737
electronic aids were delivered by Active Communication to clients in Switzerland and abroad.
5,415
deliveries were made to individual and institutional clients, including healthcare professionals, by Active Communication in 2025.
Active Communication, based in Steinhausen (Canton of Zug), was founded in 1999. As a leading provider of digital assistive technologies, Active Communication ensures greater self-determination and participation and thus contributes to the inclusion of people with disabilities.