Leading article. Health is our greatest asset. We become particularly aware of that fact when we are sick. Ensuring good health is a lifelong task, because good health isn't just a matter of fate.It depends to a large extent on our own behaviour and...
Editorial. When the Prevention Act of 2012 failed in the Council of States, it was not the Act itself that was defeated. At that stage, no one doubted that prevention works. In fact, it failed because of the discussion about the spending freeze,...
Interview with Andreas Balthasar. Andreas Balthasar assesses the alcohol, tobacco, and diet and exercise programmes as well as the package of drug measures after their first period. We asked him about his overall view of the programmes, where he thinks they have been...
National Tobacco Programme (NTP 2008–2016). "Smoking-related cases of death and disease in Switzerland have been reduced." With this mission, the Federal Council adopted the NTP 2008–2016 in 2008 and commissioned the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) with its...
National Alcohol Programme NPA 2008–2016. Alcohol is a part of our culture – a glass of red wine with dinner, a little champagne as a toast, or a beer in the evening. However, alcohol is not a normal consumer product and one needs to learn how to deal with it. Although most...
Packages of drug measures. Switzerland's four-pillar drug policy is still a commendable example for many countries in their approach to drug problems. These are some of the impressive achievements over the last twenty years: open drug scenes have disappeared,...
National Programme on Diet and Physical Activity (NPDPA 2008–2016). Enjoying life has a lot to do with nutrition and physical activity, because people who eat a balanced diet and get plenty of physical activity are providing a solid basis for their health, and feel good at the same time. The NPDPA...