In Switzerland, the federal authorities, the cantons, and the communes share the responsibility of healthcare,
disease prevention and health promotion policies. Yet, the cantons are in most health matters independent in
their decisions, thus defining as a matter of fact their own health priorities.
We examined and analysed the content of the disease prevention and health promotion plans elaborated during
the last decade in six French-speaking cantons with different political contexts and resources, but quite similar
population health data, in order to identify the set health priorities.
The plans appear significantly inhomogeneous in their structure, scope and priorities. Most of the formal
documents are short, in the 16 to 40 pages range. Core values such as equity, solidarity and sustainability are
explicitly put forward in 2/6 cantonal plans. Priority health issues shared by all 6 cantons are “physical activity/
sedentariness” and “nutrition/food.” Mental health is explicitly mentioned in 5 cantonal plans, whereas tobacco
and alcohol consumptions are mentioned 4 times.
Less attention has been given to topics that appear as major public health challenges at present and in the future
in Switzerland, eg, ageing of the population, rise of social inequalities, increase of vulnerable populations. Little
attention has also been paid to issues like domestic violence or healthy work environments.
Despite some heterogeneity, there is a common base that should make inter-cantonal collaborations possible
and coordination with national strategies easily feasibl
