Health system: difficulties for many Swiss citizens (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• Half of the Swiss have difficulties with health skills
• Three out of four people are not oriented in the health system
• Study of the Careum foundation presented in Mendrisio
• Propose the easy language for documents and websites

Key facts

• What: Ticino Forum on Equity of Care and Health
• When: Monday
• Where: Mendrisio
• Who: Careum Foundation and Department of Health and Social Care
• Result: 50% of the population with poor health skills

For a significant portion of the population, the Swiss health system is a complex bureaucratic labyrinth. The data emerged from a study conducted by the Careum foundation, presented on Monday during the first Ticino forum on the equity of care and health held in Mendrisio, outlines a worrying picture: one in two Swiss manifest objective difficulties in managing their skills in the health field, while as many as three out of four people declare that they cannot effectively orient themselves within the current system. These figures, which in themselves indicate a systemic criticality, could even underestimate the phenomenon. As explained to SEIDISERA's microphones by Elena Alder, scientific collaborator of the foundation's Center for Health Competence, there is a real risk that some respondents overestimate their health information management skills. The perception of competence, in fact,

Operational details

The problem of orientation in the health system is not a recent phenomenon, but a criticality that persists over time without showing signs of significant improvement. The analysis conducted by the Careum foundation highlights how bureaucratic complexity is inextricably intertwined with medical jargon, creating a wall that separates the citizen from the services he needs. To overcome this obstacle, the Department of Health and Social Care, led by Raffaele De Rosa, is evaluating solutions at both national and cantonal levels, aimed at facilitating the passage of information. Among the concrete proposals that are gaining ground is the adoption of the so-called easy language, a mode of communication that radically simplifies the drafting of administrative documents and the structuring of institutional web pages.

The challenge lies in understanding whether the priority should be the education of the population, making citizens more aware, or whether it is more effective to impose on doctors and operators a drastic simplification of the language used. According to Dr. Brenno Balestra, co-president for the Italian-speaking region of Swiss health network for equity, there is no magic formula or simple recipe to solve such a layered problem. Medical language and technical jargon are, in daily practice, incomprehensible to a large part of the population. Crossbow reiterates that the intervention axes

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Key points

Navigating the complexities of the Swiss healthcare system requires a proactive approach from citizens, who often have to independently bridge communication gaps between institutions and professionals. Although cantonal institutions are working to implement easy-to-read language solutions, the transition process is not yet fully operational on a large scale. To navigate better right from the start, it is necessary to adopt personal document management strategies. When dealing with chronic conditions or the need to consult industry professionals, it is essential to explicitly request explanations in plain language if technical jargon is incomprehensible. Do not hesitate to ask your doctor to rephrase instructions regarding forms or treatment plans; this is a right that can prevent misunderstandings and unnecessary administrative frustrations.

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