Contribution to Medicus Mundi Switzerland (MMS) Network

Progress made in advancing global health over the last decades is indisputable, but it is far from reaching everyone. Against the backdrop of a global polycrisis, inequity in health is increasing, which has a negative impact on the health of many populations.

Combining the knowledge of its members and facilitating the exchange of experience, MMS, which has been active for 50 years, lays the foundations for continuously strengthening the quality, effectiveness and visibility of Switzerland’s international cooperation in health. The Network plays a key role in reinforcing health systems in low- and middle-income countries.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the Medicus Mundi (MMS) Network deciding to place a stronger focus on current and emerging global health crisis and their consequences worldwide, ensuring to leave nobody behind. In this new phase, MMS will put more emphasis on a multisectoral approach and will increasingly work together with social actors outside the health sector and incorporate the perspectives of new generations to solving ongoing and emerging challenges in international cooperation in health.

The MMS Network primarily benefits the local programme partners of the MMS member organisations.

It also helps member organisations to strengthen themselves technically and institutionally, thereby improving their practice, quality and effectiveness.

Additionally, the MMS Network helps to raise awareness of health and development issues among the public and decision-makers, with a constant focus on promoting equity and the right to health, leaving no one behind.

Outcome 1: MMS member organisations work with each other and with emerging stakeholders within and beyond global health.

Outcome 2: MMS member organisations learn with and from each other within the Network and build on fact-based knowledge.

Outcome 3: MMS mobilises the expertise of its member organisations and engages in open dialogue with everyone. Through its work, MMS works to ensure that the right to health for all is widely recognised as a realistic goal.

Outcome 4: The MMS Network has a solid institutional basis.

Expected results:  

• Creation of a knowledge base on futureoriented topics in international cooperation in health.
• Promotion of the collaboration between science and civil society for a better implementation and validation of projects and programmes in international cooperation in health.
• Strengthening of sexual and reproductive health and rights through its incorporation into various products and exchange within NGOs and other actors.
• Advancing the right to health worldwide, by mobilising the knowledge of member organisations and engaging in dialogue with various stakeholders.
• Development of a regular reporting system on Switzerland's impact on global health.

Results from previous phases:  

• The participation rate of MMS member organisations in the Network is at a high 80- 85%, and the existing information channels and media have a high benefit for the strength of the exchange.
• In a volatile global environment, MMS and its members remained close to global developments and contributed experience from their work to the international cooperation policy dialogue.
• MMS has successfully engaged in various processes in the areas of health foreign policy, Agenda 2030, health workforce, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and is valued as a competent partner.
• The involvement of MMS in the Swiss delegation of the Global Fund provided important insights into the role of civil society and key populations in international cooperation in health.