Sciana Fellows outline ideas for a sustainable Swiss health system

Sciana Fellows in Switzerland share solutions in new position paper

Sciana Fellows from different areas of the Swiss health care system have collaborated to publish a new position paper on recommended reform priorities.

On January 10, Careum published "Der Weg zu einem nachhaltig funktionierenden Gesundheitssystem" (The path to a sustainably functioning health system).

The position paper was jointly written by 32 members of the Sciana Network, including Ilona Kickbusch, chair of Cohorts 2-5, and Stefan Spycher, CEO of Careum and a member of Cohort 2. Sciana Advisors Bettina Borisch and Thomas Zeltner are also among the signatories.   

They are joined by Fellows across cohorts who suggest policymakers and stakeholders in the Swiss healthcare system focus on five key areas for reform:

• Improving cooperation between the Swiss Confederation and the cantons
• Making greater use of existing information and technology
• Deploying health workers properly
• Creating health-promoting environments
• Promoting sustainability

The publication states, "For future reforms to be successful, political majorities will be needed in the Federal Council and Parliament. Given the complexity of the environment and the many different perspectives, this is a major challenge. We believe that a clear position, benchmarks and scientific evidence are needed to provide guidance and bring the many stakeholders together.”

Read and download the full position paper here. The paper is available in English, French, and German.

This position paper was authored by Sciana Fellows Beatrice Beck Schimmer, Stefanie Becker, Mathias Binswanger, Rudolf Blankart, Ursula Bonhage, Urs Brügger, Lars Clarfeld, Jérôme Cosandey, Saskia De Gani, Mario Desmedt, Manuela Eicher, Andy Fischer, Yvonne Gilli, Sonja Kahlmeier, Sang-Il Kim, Daniel Liedtke, Jacqueline Martin, Fridolin Marty, Judith Meier, Annamaria Müller, Marcel Napierala, Dunja Nicca, Oliver Reich, Judith Safford, Felix Schneuwly, Stefan Spycher, Sven Streit, Mirjam Weber, and Claudia Witt. The position paper was also authored by Ilona Kickbusch, Chair (Cohorts 2-5) and Sciana Advisors Bettina Borisch and Thomas Zeltner. The views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of their organisation(s), Sciana: The Health Leaders Network, nor those of the Sciana Network's three funding foundations.