The joint health call center for the cantons of Vaud and Neuchâtel has officially dropped its old moniker, transitioning from the CTMG to the Centrale santé while launching a new, simplified telephone number: 058 6 116 116. Unveiled during a press conference in Lausanne on Monday, November 2, 2026, the updated service operates around the clock from the Alarm Receiving Center (ARC) inside the Etablissement cantonal d’assurance (ECA) building.
Lausanne Call Center Unveils New Identity and Number
Located alongside emergency dispatch operations for police at 117, firefighters at 118, and health emergencies at 144, the newly renamed hub handles non-life-threatening medical situations for both children and adults. According to state officials, the transition aims to make the entry point into regional ambulatory care easier to remember. The operational team—consisting of approximately 70 nurse-trained regulators—remains anchored within Unisanté.
Did You Know? The call center traces its roots back to 1961 as a dedicated telephone line for medical guards, later evolving into a bi-cantonale agreement joining Vaud and Neuchâtel in 2015.
Reducing Emergency Room Overcrowding
Regional health authorities emphasize that patients should consult the new hotline before heading straight to hospital emergency rooms. Julie Legault, Director of the Direction des urgences et de préparations aux crises, explained that dropping the words "telephone" and "doctors" from the old title reflects modern triage methods and future communication channels.
Expert Insight: Transitioning to a standardized 058 prefix allows callers across various standard phone plans to reach the center without incurring surcharges, balancing accessibility with strict federal and cantonal cost regulations.
Facility handles thousands of annual calls and alarms
The facility processes roughly 160’000 calls annually from the combined populations of Vaud and Neuchâtel, alongside handling 50’000 Sécutel alarms. Daily volumes routinely range between 400 and 1,500 requests, with roughly a quarter successfully resolved purely through nursing advice. For staff on the ground, such as regulatory nurse Vincent Gelé, the rebrand requires little more than a slight adjustment to the opening greeting when answering incoming lines.
Ce lundi 2 novembre, la Centrale téléphonique des médecins de garde a changé de nom et de numéro, pour les cantons de Vaud et Neuchâtel. On vous dit qui contacter dorénavant, si vous avez besoin d'une aide non-urgente, en l'absence de votre médecin tr… https://t.co/YOGxxhid2V
Call center introduces new joint number and routing process
What is the new number for the Centrale santé?
The public can now reach the joint Vaud-Neuchâtel health call center by dialing 058 6 116 116, replacing older cantonal numbers that will nevertheless feature automatic redirection for at least one year.
Who answers the phone calls at the center?
All incoming inquiries are initially received by regulation assistants to rule out immediate life-threatening emergencies, after which calls are routed to specialized nurses who evaluate symptoms and offer guidance.
What should patients do before calling the hotline?
Officials recommend contacting a primary care physician or local pharmacy first, reserving calls to the Centrale santé for evenings, weekends, holidays, or situations where a regular doctor is unavailable.
How will the simplified 058 number change how your household handles minor medical concerns outside of regular clinic hours?