Holistic strategy and coordination

Switzerland already has various strategies in the health sector, such as the Cancer Plan, the NCD Strategy (noncommunicable diseases), the Vaccination Strategy, the Swiss Antibiotic Resistance Strategy (StAR) and the National programme: Stop HIV, hepatitis B and C viruses and sexually transmitted infections (NAPS). However, an overarching, holistic strategy with clear goals was missing until now.

Why is a holistic strategy needed?

• Focus on primary and secondary prevention: Prevention not only means avoiding illnesses (primary prevention) but also detecting and treating them at an early stage (secondary prevention). With better coordination, existing resources could be used more efficiently to prevent diseases from developing or to detect them earlier.
• Measurable targets and monitoring: An overarching strategy should define clear targets – for example prevention of communicable diseases up to a specific date or reduction of the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases or cancer – and at the same time create mechanisms to regularly measure progress towards the targets. This makes it possible to recognize in good time whether measures are having an effect or whether they need to be adjusted.

The contribution of the pharmaceutical industry

Pharmaceutical companies not only develop new medicines and technologies – they also possess a wealth of knowledge regarding disease progressions, data analyses and the implementation of medical standards in clinical practice. In specific terms, this means:

• Partnerships with stakeholders: Pharmaceutical companies can sit down together with authorities, insurers, GP practices, hospitals and research institutions to develop a unified national strategy for prevention and early detection.
• Integration into existing strategies: Pharmaceutical companies already work on particular aspects of national health strategies on a project-specific basis (e.g. the vaccination strategy). They can use and combine these experiences to avoid any duplication of work and create synergies.

A specific example is the Take CARE project, which focuses on optimally controlling risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The project combines scientific findings and networking to improve the care of people with cardiovascular risks. As part of a multi-stakeholder partnership (consisting of PonteNet AG, KPT, Sanitas, Swica, the Institute of Primary Care Zurich and Novartis), a tool has been developed that enables doctors to implement medical guidelines with ease. It incorporates health parameters that are defined in the existing medical guidelines, for example LDL cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Such suitable monitoring of cardiovascular risk factors and subsequent guideline-compliant treatment is intended to improve the quality of treatment.

To Blog Part 1: Prevention as part of a sustainable Swiss healthcare system

To Blog Part 2: Targeted prevention and early detection are the key to long-term success