Children under five and women living in remote regions benefit from better access to medical treatment thanks to Switzerland's efforts in the realm of family medicine. © SDC
Strengthening health systems – Health coverage for all
Good governance and the efficient management of resources are key factors in a well-functioning health sector. The SDC promotes the strengthening of health care systems in developing and transition countries. Switzerland strives to promote universal health coverage through its activities both to establish social protection mechanisms and to advocate for access to quality health care for the most vulnerable.
SDC focus
Financing health
The SDC's support for health sector reforms in its partner countries is based on a thorough analysis of the prevailing political, economic and social contexts. Its aim: to guarantee access to quality health services for the poorest.
A combination of research and action enables the SDC to encourage the development of innovative financing and payment mechanisms for health services. Its interventions are always aligned with national policies and priorities, and implemented in direct cooperation with its governmental, non-governmental and private partners in the health sector. This approach seeks to develop a form of social protection capable of preventing the most vulnerable members of society from plunging into poverty as a result of their expenditure on health-related problems. SDC projects focus on the public sector and providing support to public-private partnerships.
Governance and participation
The SDC promotes efforts to establish better governance in the health sector and supports both governmental and non-governmental actors in this objective as they strive to develop a culture of accountability, wage war on corruption and achieve transparency in the allocation and utilisation of resources.
At the community level, the SDC supports health promotion initiatives which involve marginalised and disadvantaged population groups. All users are encouraged to participate in the management and follow-up of health services as this helps reduce access barriers to care and leads to better health outcomes. This process of social empowerment enables users to know and assert their rights, and allows health care professionals to better respond to the needs of the population by offering quality care.
Determinants of health
The health of individuals and communities depends on a multitude of economic, social, cultural and environmental factors. SDC projects give priority to cooperation and coordination between different sectors (water, agriculture, education, etc.) in order to influence the various factors that constitute "determinants of health". Its activities also aim to encourage behavioural change and ensure that the poorest of the poor can exercise their right to health.
The SDC cooperates with other federal departments and offices such as the Human Security Division (HSD) and the FDFA's Sectoral Foreign Policies Division, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Context
Faced with growing populations in the low-income countries and the ageing of the global population, establishing efficient and equitable health systems is a priority. However, health care systems in a large number of countries suffer from a lack of investment and poor management of the available resources, with services relying too heavily on external funding. As a result, infrastructure, technologies and equipment are lacking, and there is an acute shortage of qualified health workers. Furthermore, the absence of social protection mechanisms forces patients to cover a large part of the costs themselves, thereby exacerbating the inequalities in access to care. At the end of the day, the economic consequences of a poor health care system are hindering development in the countries concerned.
In its position on health for the post-2015 agenda, Switzerland aspires to maximise health for all in all life stages. The long-term objective is to achieve universal health coverage and take coordinated action on the social, economic, cultural and environmental determinants of health. After all, the conditions in which people are born, raised and work have an impact on their state of health. Adopting an approach to health that involves other sectors such as water, sanitation, education and food security is therefore absolutely essential to overcoming inequalities.
Links
Documents
Current projects
Selection
Asset Recovery Strategic Partnerships
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2029
Switzerland supports strategic partners in asset recovery who provide technical assistance to countries, advocate for international standards, and facilitate knowledge and exchange on international efforts and ongoing cases. The partnerships leverage Switzerland’s potential to influence the agenda more effectively, facilitate the integration of international best practices in ongoing restitution negotiations, and help ensure that returned assets benefit the populations of states of origin.
Backstopping support for SDC’s Cluster Green thematic Knowledge Networks A+FS, CDE and RésEAU
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2028
As a globally active knowledge-based organisation, SDC is critically dependent on effective and efficient knowledge management. SDC’s thematic networks sit at the heart of this endeavour, rendering an essential service across the organisation and its partners by connecting network members, collecting and processing information, and retaining and distributing knowledge. State-of-the art backstopping services are essential to this activity, as is close cooperation between SDC’s thematic networks.
CULTURESCAPES - phasing out 2024-2025
21.10.2024
- 31.12.2025
The biennial festival CULTURESCAPES enables artists from and around the Sahara to perform and contribute to debates on specific topics relevant to the region, and to find new partners and networks. The festival takes place in several cantons of Switzerland in cooperation with various cuItural institutions. SDC’s contribution enables specific efforts regarding research, co-productions and gives artists visibility, skills and networks to benefit the cultural scene of their countries of origin.
E-Governance for Accountability and Participation (EGAP), Phase 3
01.10.2024
- 30.09.2028
Digital transformation of Ukraine’s public administration significantly contributed to its resilience in the critical war conditions. Switzerland will consolidate its support to Ukraine in promoting innovative digital tools as amplifiers of democratic reforms in socially important sectors, catalysts of sustainable recovery and effective service provision to citizens and the private sector.
Appui au Forum des ONG Internationales au Mali (FONGIM)
01.10.2024
- 30.09.2028
La présente contribution soutient le Forum des ONG Internationales au Mali en tant que plateforme efficace de coordination, de plaidoyer et de renforcement des capacités des ONG humanitaires et de développement au Mali. Le FONGIM permet aux partenaires de la DDC au Mali de mener leurs activités sur le terrain de manière efficace en assurant un rôle d’interface avec l’administration malienne.
Reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases – Healthy Life Project
01.10.2024
- 30.06.2028
Since 2015, Switzerland supports Moldova in addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their impact on the population’s health. The Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine hindered the progress and increased the fragility of Moldova’s health system. In its exit phase, the project will focus on the sustainability of the improvements introduced in NCD prevention and control. By improving the performance of the public health and the primary healthcare systems, the project also strengthens the overall resilience of Moldovan’s health system.
Moldova: Continuity of care in case of catastrophic health events – Care4Living
01.10.2024
- 30.09.2028
Switzerland will support Moldovan health authorities in reforming the emergency care system and in building rehabilitation services in order to ensure timely medical care in cases of medical and public health emergencies. The program will contribute to enhancing the chances to survival and recovery for patients who are at risk or have suffered catastrophic health events (stroke, heart attack, multiple trauma). The program will use the development of healthcare services as a vehicle to foster dialogue between Moldova and its breakaway region of Transnistria.
ACF - Mécanisme de Réponse Ra-pide (RRM) au Burkina Faso
01.10.2024
- 31.12.2026
SOM, SomReP Bridging Phase
01.10.2024
- 31.12.2025
SomReP aims to foster sustainable livelihoods and increase the resilience of (agro-) pastoralist communities to climate shocks across Somalia. By supporting vulnerable communities to better cope with ecological disasters SomRep makes an important contribution to mitigate key drivers of fragility in Somalia and thereby promotes Switzerland’s interest to strengthen stability and economic develop ment in the Horn of Africa region.
Strengthening the Climate Adaptation Capacities in Georgia
01.10.2024
- 31.03.2027
Since 2017, Switzerland has contributed to national and international efforts to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change in Georgia. It will continue to support the further development of the legal and policy framework for natural hazard mapping and zoning in 2024-2027, with an additional focus on strengthening the inclusion of women's voices, needs and capacities in disaster risk reduction. The project will also rely on the Swiss expertise on avalanche and landslide forecasting.
Assistance en soutien psychosocial et protection intégrée pour les populations affectées par le conflit au Burkina Faso
30.09.2024
- 30.04.2026
Les populations déplacées internes au Burkina Faso, en particulier les femmes et les filles, sont exposées à des violations de leurs droits. Afin de contribuer à la protection de ces populations vulnérables, la Suisse soutient le projet de protection intégrée. Le projet vise à répondre à l’urgence et à appuyer les acteurs locaux (Etat, associations et communautés) dans la prise en charge des victimes et à réduire leur vulnérabilité en leur donnant des moyens de subvenir à leurs besoins.
Appui au renforcement des capacités de résilience des populations vulnérables du Batha – REPAR
16.09.2024
- 15.09.2027
L’intervention vise à améliorer la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle des populations vulnérables de la province du Batha de manière holistique, à travers une approche prenant en compte à la fois les activités de développement et humanitaire. Le projet appuie la mise en place d’un mécanisme local durable de prévention et de gestion des crises alimentaires, l’augmentation des revenus des ménages vulnérables et l’assistance alimentaire pendant les périodes de soudure.
