Review of the discussion weekend
Last weekend, the Citizens' Assembly met for the second time in plenary to further discuss the topics of “health promotion and prevention”. Since the kick-off weekend in November, the 100 randomly selected participants from all over Switzerland had worked intensively on this topic in several online meetings and exchanged ideas with experts. They now met again in Neuchâtel with a good understanding of the initial situation and an overview of various reform proposals.
Day 1: Discussion with politicians and health care professionals
On the first day, the participants met in the Aula Jeunes-Rives at the University of Neuchatel. A sunny, albeit cold, winter's day on the shores of Lake Neuchatel provided the atmospheric setting for the opening session, which began with an overview of the work done so far. In an interactive format, known as the marketplace, the participants discussed the seven reform proposals, which ranged from a national health law to the integration of preventive measures into basic health insurance and the strengthening of incentives for health-conscious behavior. The proposals were reflected upon and added to in changing groups on pinboards. The participants collected arguments for and against and visualized them with green and red post-its. This preparatory work formed the basis for the discussions in the afternoon.
After lunch, which could also be enjoyed in the winter sun, two discussion rounds per reform proposal took place in group rooms with stakeholders from the health care and political sectors. Both proponents and critics were represented to ensure that different perspectives were present and that an open-ended discussion could take place. The first day concluded with an exchange with political stakeholders.
“Discussing the reform proposals with stakeholders from politics and healthcare was extremely exciting. It was particularly valuable to hear not only their opinions but also their expertise,” said participant Rebeca Meier from Glattpark, adding: ”For me personally, it helped me to take on new perspectives – whether it was to develop the proposals further or to take a step back and look at the fundamental problem from a new angle.”
It was inspiring to see how stakeholders from politics and healthcare and randomly selected members of the public discussed and sought solutions together. The Citizens' Assembly provided a forum for the exchange and negotiation of different points of view – a valuable experience for all involved. Barbara Gysi, President of the National Council's Committee for Social Security and Health (SKG), emphasized: “It was extremely interesting to hear the issues discussed in the Citizens' Assembly – the issues that also concern the general public.”
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Exchange with political stakeholders
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Day 2: Detailed elaboration of the reform proposals
On Sunday, the focus was on deepening and concretizing the proposals initiated the previous day. After a joint discussion on the question “What do we want to achieve as a Citizens' Assembly?”, the participants continued to work on the specific reform proposals in working groups. The specific proposals were then presented in plenary and discussed intensively – the aim was to highlight both strengths and weaknesses, as well as outstanding issues. At the end of the day, the Citizens' Assembly decided which proposals were formulated in sufficiently concrete terms to be discussed further at the final weekend, and which approaches would not be pursued further.
What happens next?
On March 11, 2025, the Citizens' Assembly will meet online for the last time before the final weekend at the end of March. In the upcoming sessions, the selected proposals in the area of health promotion and prevention will be further discussed and refined. During the final weekend, these proposals will be voted on individually. The results will be included in a report that will provide valuable impetus for policymakers and the public.
Loïc Schwab