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Citizens’ Assembly discusses reform proposals on health promotion and prevention

  • The 2025 Citizens’ Assembly, comprising 100 randomly selected Swiss residents,
    is meeting this weekend in Neuchâtel.
  • Participants discuss reform proposals for health promotion and prevention,
    including with stakeholders from politics and the healthcare sector.
  • The research project conducted by the Universities of Zurich and Geneva, coordinated by the
    Centre for Democracy Studies Aarau (CDA), investigates whether and how citizens’ assemblies
    enrich democratic debates.

This weekend, the Citizens’ Assembly is meeting at the University of Neuchâtel to discuss reform proposals on health promotion and prevention – from financial incentives and advertising bans on unhealthy products to a national health law. On Saturday afternoon, stakeholders from politics and the healthcare sector will engage in dialogue with the Citizens’ Assembly.


Back in November, the Citizens’ Assembly decided on the key topic of «Health promotion & prevention». Over the past few weeks, the participants have held several online meetings to discuss the topic in depth and exchange ideas with experts. With a good understanding of the current situation and an overview of various reform proposals, the Citizens’ Assembly is now meeting again in Neuchâtel.


Focus on discussion

On the second weekend, the focus will be on discussion within the Citizens’ Assembly: reform proposals such as a national health law, the inclusion of preventive measures in basic insurance, and targeted incentives for health promotion and prevention will be debated. Measures such as tax adjustments, bans, rewards for health-conscious behaviour, strengthening health literacy, and greater involvement of employers will also be discussed. On Saturday afternoon, stakeholders from politics and the healthcare sector will engage in dialogue with the Citizens’ Assembly.

«The discussion weekend offers an opportunity to bring together different perspectives on the
urgent challenges facing the healthcare system,» emphasises co-initiator Nenad Stojanović from the University of Geneva. «Direct dialogue between the population, politicians and stakeholders in the healthcare sector enables a valuable exchange of ideas and can contribute to the development of viable reforms in healthcare policy.»


Barbara Gysi, President of the National Council’s Social Security and Health Committee (SKG), is looking forward to the discussions with the People’s Council: «The People’s Council makes an important contribution to connecting politics and society. The discussions will reveal which reform proposals reflect the diverse views of the population in the area of health promotion and prevention.»


Nicolina Onofrei from Neuchâtel, participant and director of a music school, is looking forward to the weekend with excitement: «Open exchange helps us to think outside the box. Not only do we gain a better understanding of other opinions, we can also work together to negotiate solutions.»


Final report in spring

After the discussion weekend, the Citizens’ Assembly will continue to work on the reform proposals.
They will be finalised and adopted in the final report at the closing weekend at the end of March.
This report summarises the discussions and outlines the Citizens’ Assembly positions on the reform proposals. It thus offers politicians an informed perspective on the issue and contributes to the public debate. The Citizens’ Assembly is organised by the Swiss People’s Council, which is responsible for organising the Citizens’ Assembly.

Further information

Website: www.pnyx25.uzh.ch
Factsheet reform proposals
Photos Discussion weekend (are updated continuously over the weekend)

Contact

Loïc Schwab, communications manager «Citizens’ Assembly 2025»,
loic.schwab@zda.uzh.ch, 062 836 94 41