'Elderly Let Down During Pandemic': Swiss Health Director

(MENAFN- Swissinfo) Switzerland let down the elderly during the Covid pandemic, the country's health director admitted in an interview with in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. This content was published on September 1, 2025 - 08:17 3 minutes Keystone-SDA

• Deutsch de BAG-Direktorin nennt grössten Fehler der Pandemie Original Read more: BAG-Direktorin nennt grössten Fehler der Pandemi

+Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox

“They are the people who were most vulnerable”, Anne Lévy, director of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), told the newspaper.

Too little attention was paid to those affected, for example when they wanted to see their relatives, while others demanded more protection. This showed that there was not one solution for everyone and that there was still room for improvement in this area of tension, said Lévy.

+ What did Europe learn from the Covid pandemic?

She conceded that the restrictions on young people could have been relaxed earlier.“We have always tried to maintain each measure only for as long as necessary. Even if we had to accept criticism for certain steps towards opening up, for example in schools,” said Lévy.“Overall, we have managed the pandemic well in Switzerland with our middle course.”

The revised Epidemics Act should create clearer responsibilities in future, strengthen the involvement of the cantons and parliament and give measures greater democratic legitimacy.

More More Prevention Swiss government completely revises pandemic plan due to Covid-19

This content was published on Jul 2, 2025 The Swiss government has completely revised the pandemic plan based on its experience with the coronavirus.

Read more: Swiss government completely revises pandemic plan due to Covid-1

Coronavirus notifications from laboratories will only be sent digitally and fax notifications will no longer be accepted from 2028, said Lévy. In addition, the federal government should be able to procure medical supplies on a subsidiary basis in the event of shortages.

In terms of healthcare and personnel, Lévy referred to cantonal responsibility, while government incentives or the army pharmacy could help with medicines. The Federal Council is examining various models with the aim of strengthening security of supply.

Parliament will now discuss the bill. The organisation Mass-voll has already announced that it is preparing a referendum against the changes to the law. In their view, the Epidemics Act is a“pure instrument of power that undermines the separation of powers to the detriment of the people and the state”.

The movement had already forced three votes on the Covid-19 law. The people clearly voted in favour of the government and parliament's course three times.

More More Swiss Politics Parliamentary body critical of Swiss pandemic preparedness

This content was published on May 24, 2022 The Swiss government reacted passively to the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in spring 2020, a parliamentary audit committee has said.

Read more: Parliamentary body critical of Swiss pandemic preparednes

Translated from German by DeepL/mga

MENAFN02092025000210011054ID1110007500