Funding
04.12.2025
New funding program: Research in migration and health
Read more CloseThe Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation and the SAMS are launching the funding program «Research in migration and health». Its goal is to promote equitable access to healthcare for vulnerable migrants in Switzerland and to strengthen research capacity and cooperation between research groups.
Despite a growing research activity in migration and health in Switzerland in the past years, research is still largely dispersed across disciplines and institutions. To address this gap, the Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation is providing CHF 2.7 million over a period of three years. The program funds project grants that encourage collaboration between research groups and disciplines. Priority is given to intervention studies aimed at improving health care provision. The submission deadline is 1st June 2026. Detailed information can be found on our website.
Regulations of the funding program (PDF)
Projects
03.12.2025
Swiss PPIE Network: the SAMS is a founding member
Read more CloseThe Swiss PPIE Network was launched on 22 November 2025 as a non-profit association whose mission is to promote patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) in healthcare. Its founding members include representatives of patients, interested citizens, and institutions, including the SAMS.
The Swiss PPIE Network aims to strengthen and anchor the participation and influence of patients, relatives, and representatives of the general public in all areas of healthcare, namely care, research, education, and policy. It will work to support existing projects and promote new initiatives. You can find more information in the new association’s press release.
Download media release (PDF)
Agenda
02.12.2025
Swiss Public Health Conference 2026: Call for Abstracts
Read more Close«Public Health and the Beauty of Complexity» is the motto of the 2026 Swiss Public Health Conference. The call for abstracts is now open to all interested parties, including those from the fields of research, practice, politics and patient advocacy, until 1 February 2026.
While complexity is often seen as a challenge, in public health it is a strength. It reflects the richness of human lives, the diversity of the systems and perspectives involved, and the need for dialogue across disciplines and sectors. This year's conference, which the SAMS is participating in as a partner, aims to encourage the formulation of new questions. Do you have ideas? Information about the conference and the call for abstracts can be found on the event page.
Visit the website
Publications
28.11.2025
Strengthening self-determination through advance care planning
Read more CloseWhat happens if we lose our capacity to make decisions due to accident or illness? Advance care planning (ACP) means addressing such questions beforehand in order to preserve self-determination and autonomy even when you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself. In the main article of the SAMS Bulletin, Prof. Miodrag Filipovic explains why ACP goes beyond the traditional advance directive.
The Bulletin 4/2025 also provides information on various new developments: the brochure to strengthen ACP in retirement and nursing homes, the subcommittee on «Differences of sex development», and the funding program «Research on Migration and Health». Information from the SAMS Senate, SPHN, as well as the results of the bulletin survey, complete this issue.
SAMS Bulletin 4/2025, French version (PDF)
Ethics
27.11.2025
Public consultation: Advance care planning for emergency situations
Read more CloseMedical emergencies require swift action. At the same time the patient’s wishes must be taken into account, for example the wish not to be resuscitated or transferred to a hospital. To provide clarity in such situations, a national expert group has developed the concept «Advance care planning (ACP) for emergency situations». The concept is under public consultation until the end of February 2026.
The most common ACP document is the advance directives. Some templates include a set of instructions for emergency situations. If this is not the case, a separate form can be a useful addition. The national expert group proposes the development of a nationwide standardised ACP emergency form and has formulated related recommendations in a concept. As part of a public consultation, all interested persons and institutions are invited to submit their comments. Further information and all necessary materials are available on our topic page.
Download concept, French Version (DOCX)
Projects
20.11.2025
New federal law on rare diseases: position statement
Read more CloseAs a founding member of the National Coordination of Rare Diseases (kosek), the SAMS supports the umbrella organization's position statement on the new federal law on measures to combat rare diseases. The text provides, among other things, for the creation of a register and the granting of financial aid for the identification and monitoring of specialized care facilities.
Like kosek, the SAMS sees this long-awaited new legal basis as an important step towards improving the care and quality of life of some 500,000 people affected in our country. However, it regrets that measures to address gaps in care have been excluded from the law: on the one hand, the reimbursement of costs incurred by individuals and institutions subject to the obligation to report rare diseases and, on the other hand, coordination costs at the level of hospitals and networks. You can download the kosek position statement below.
Position statement, French Version (PDF)
SPHN
19.11.2025
SPHN publication with insight into data governance at university hospitals
Read more CloseAiming to share knowledge and advance data sharing across the country, SPHN has published a report on data governance practices for data sharing at all five university hospitals in Switzerland. The analysis sheds light on how individual institutions process requests for health data access and on what grounds decisions are taken.
Local data governance bodies within health data providing institutions play a central role in shaping the secondary use of routine health data. The report «Exploring Data Governance for Data Sharing at Swiss University Hospitals» describes relevant commonalities and portrays future challenges in governance practices relating to the secondary use of data. This publication aims to increase transparency and share knowledge to further enable efficient and fair data sharing across interested parties. Read more in the PDF and on the SPHN website.
Download the report (PDF)
Ethics
12.11.2025
Forcible Deportations: Disclosure of medical data
Read more CloseWith regard to forcible deportations, physicians are legally obliged to share relevant health data to enable the assessment of transportability of the persons affected. As of January 1, 2026, a standardised nationwide report form will be introduced in Switzerland for this purpose. The aim is to ensure the disclosure of medical data in compliance with legal requirements.
Medical confidentiality under Article 321 of the Swiss Criminal Code must also be respected in the context of the enforcement of deportations orders. If the affected person refuses to give consent to data disclosure, a release from medical confidentiality is to be requested. The FMH, the Conference of Swiss Prison Doctors and the SAMS explicitly recommend this. Today the three institutions published a comprehensive article in the Swiss Medical Journal (Bulletin des médecins suisses, BMS). Further information and the new medical report form can be found on our topic page.
Download BMS article in French (PDF)