21.11.2024Review of the kick-off weekend

Last weekend, the Citizens' Assembly at the University of Zurich kicked off. Around 100 randomly selected participants from all over Switzerland came together to get to know each other, explore the topic of health costs and lay the foundation for their joint work.

Day 1: Getting to know each other and introducing the topic

The first participants arrived at the University of Zurich before nine o'clock and received their name tags, notepads and pens at the reception. Equipped and full of anticipation, but certainly also a little nervous, they went up the stairs to the auditorium for the first time. There they enjoyed coffee and croissants, and then took their seats in the hall, equipped with headphones for the translation.

Daniel Kübler, a professor at the University of Zurich, opened the day and explained: “With this project, we want to test a new form of democracy.” The aim is to bring together people from different walks of life, to break through echo chambers and to get to know other perspectives. His co-initiator, Prof. Nenad Stojanović from the University of Geneva, added: “The project has no political agenda. The topic of 'rising health costs' was chosen in a broad process because it affects us all and is intended to reinvigorate deadlocked discussions.”

The facilitation team from Interface then gave an overview of the Citizens' Assembly process and initiated initial interactions: participants positioned themselves in the room according to age group and place of residence or found each other according to everyday Saturday activities such as “still in bed” or “at the gym”.

Chantal Grandchamp from Unisanté then gave an introduction to the Swiss healthcare system and presented the key challenges: limited resources, pressure on the principle of solidarity and rising costs. Andreas Balthasar from Interface explored the topic of health costs in more detail and explained the way through the Swiss health system and the topics: basic insurance, hospitals, coordination of care, expansion of services, as well as health promotion and prevention. Participant Norma Widmer-Hueber from Graubünden was impressed: “In simple and clear words, we were shown what the real cost drivers are. We as a population are never told this so clearly. Why is it always presented in such an unnecessarily complicated way?”

In the afternoon, the participants explored the five main topics at an interactive marketplace. Experts were on hand at stands to answer questions and engage in discussions, which led to a lively exchange. The first day ended with a group dinner in the cafeteria of the University of Zurich – with plenty of food for thought and anticipation for the upcoming discussions.

Day 2: Discussion and focusing

On Sunday, the focus was on selecting the main topic. After reflecting on the insights from the previous day, Andri Heimann from the Center for Democracy Studies Aarau gave an input on conflicting goals in health policy.

Together, the participants developed the basics for the vote, in which the majority opted for “health promotion and prevention” – ahead of the second-placed option “care coordination”. “It's time not just to treat illnesses, but to focus our healthcare system more on prevention and promotion,” said participant Baptiste Favre from Valais, aptly. In doing so, untapped potential should be exploited and the causes should be addressed in a targeted manner in order to save costs preventively. After the topic was chosen, the participants met for the first time in regional groups to get to know each other and to delve deeper into the chosen topic.

A successful start

The kick-off weekend marked the beginning of a project that actively integrates the diversity of perspectives from the population into the discussion on health policy. The participants appeared committed and motivated to negotiate sustainable solutions in the area of healthcare costs in the coming months.

The energy and curiosity that characterized the weekend bode well for the next exciting and constructive steps. The regional groups will now continue their work online before the Citizens' Assembly reconvenes in Neuchâtel in mid-November for the discussion weekend.

Loïc Schwab