Federal Council wants to adapt Epidemics Act with lessons learned from pandemic
Published: Wednesday, Nov 29th 2023, 16:20
Updated At: Wednesday, Nov 29th 2023, 16:21
Zurück zu Live Feed
The Federal Council wants to amend the Epidemics Act and draw lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic. This should prepare Switzerland for future crises and dangerous situations. In particular, coordination between the federal government and the cantons is to be improved.
The partial revision of the Epidemics Act, which has been in force since 2016, is necessary in view of pandemics and significant health threats, Health Minister Alain Berset told the media in Bern on Wednesday. In particular, he wants to adapt the escalation model with normal, special and extraordinary situations.
The model has basically proven itself, said Berset. However, there are uncertainties regarding the requirements for the special situation and the transition from one situation to another.
In the normal situation, the federal government should be able to order measures to be taken on public transport if there is a particular risk. This could, for example, be a mask-wearing requirement.
Prescribe preparations
The Federal Council now wants to require the cantons to prepare for a special situation. It should formally determine the special situation itself after consulting the cantons and the relevant parliamentary committees. The cantons remain responsible for ordering measures if the federal government has not already ordered them.
In an extraordinary situation - the third and highest level - the Federal Council can order measures under emergency law.
The Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Public Health (GDK) also believes that the responsibilities of the federal government and cantons need to be clarified in this special situation. The GDK points the finger at the change from one situation to another. For efficient reporting and monitoring, digitalization and data management in the healthcare sector must also be promoted and regulated in a binding manner, it states.
Two variants for aid to companies
When it comes to financial aid for companies financially affected by protective measures, the Federal Council has two options for discussion. One is to dispense with a regulation in the Epidemics Act and introduce specific regulations where necessary.
The second - enshrined in the Epidemics Act - would give the Federal Council the option of issuing an ordinance under certain conditions in the event of an epidemic in order to support companies with repayable liquidity assistance.
The Federal Council also wants to take over the possibility for the federal government to intervene in healthcare from the Covid-19 Act. This concerns, for example, the obligation to report the stock of medically important goods or the capacity of healthcare provision in the cantons.
The Federal Council wants to simplify the rules for financing important medical goods. The federal government should also be able to cover the costs of vaccines, tests and medicines in future pandemics.
Legal basis for certificates
The Federal Council does not want to extend the possibility of mandatory vaccination, but does want to improve easy access to vaccination and the monitoring of vaccination coverage. The legal basis for certificates to provide forgery-proof proof of vaccinations should also be included in the Epidemics Act, said Berset.
The Federal Council also wants to specify the requirements for monitoring and early detection. The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) remains responsible for this. The Federal Council should be able to oblige not only operators of wastewater treatment plants, but also other institutions and companies to participate in the monitoring of wastewater.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the patchwork of protective measures in the cantons was the subject of discussion and criticism. According to the Minister of Health, more coherence can help. "But you can't expect everything from one law," Berset pointed out.
Difficult in the future too
After all, in addition to the law, governments, discretionary powers and human contacts are also needed to deal with the situation. Even during a future pandemic, everything will be difficult.
The Federal Council also wants to enshrine the prevention and combating of antibiotic resistance and hospital infections, some of which are also caused by antibiotic-resistant germs, in the Epidemics Act. In future, the Federal Council wants to be able to oblige hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities to implement measures for the appropriate use of antibiotics.
The consultation on the draft Epidemics Act will last until March 22, 2024.
©Keystone/SDA
German 
English 
French 
Spanish 
Arabic