A study funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) shows that Switzerland’s weak winter sunlight doesn’t provide a level of vitamin D anywhere close to the minimum recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). While sun exposure increases the risk of skin cancer it also produces vitamin D, a substance essential for bone health […]
Referendum to ban tobacco advertising in Switzerland reaches 100,000 signatures
An initiative demanding a ban on tobacco advertising has collected 109,969 valid signatures, more than the 100,000 minimum required to launch a popular vote, according to RTS. The planned vote entitled: “Yes to the protection of children and young people against tobacco advertising” demands the federal government ban all forms of tobacco advertising towards children […]
Migros recalls cheese containing harmful bacteria
Internal testing by Migros found listeria bacteria in a Gorgonzola e Mascarpone cheese product. The cheese product shown above should not be eaten, according to Migros. If consumed it could trigger flu-like symptoms including fever, headache and nausea. Pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems who have consumed this product and who have these […]
Thousands protest against 5G mobile rollout in Swiss capital
Rollout of the next generation of mobile technology, known as 5G, has met with resistance in Switzerland. Last week, a demonstration in Bern, organized by Frequencia against the rollout, attracted thousands, according to RTS. Frequencia claims more than 3,000 people attended the protest. Switzerland is one of the first countries to rollout the new technology, […]
Occasional daytime naps may cut risk of heart attack, according to Swiss study
Research done in Switzerland suggests an occasional daytime nap could dramatically reduce the risk of a heart attack. The study, conducted by Nadine Häusler of the Department of Medicine at the University Hospital of Lausanne, followed 3,462 people in Lausanne aged from 35 to 75 for 5 years, according to the American Journal of Managed Care […]
Swiss upper house votes to further restrict tobacco advertising
Switzerland is one of a small number of countries that has not ratified the World Health Organisation (WHO) ban on tobacco advertising known as FCTC. Currently, Switzerland only bans tobacco advertising on television and radio. The WHO ban goes much further. 181 countries have already ratified the WHO ban. Andorra, Monaco and Liechtenstein are the […]
No rise in average health premiums in 10 Swiss cantons in 2020
Every year, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) gives advance warning of compulsory health insurance premiums for the coming year. After years of rising premiums, many will be relieved by the small projected increases for 2020. Across all of Switzerland, the average premium is expected to rise 0.2% to CHF 315.40 a month. On […]
Nearly 8% of Switzerland’s population has suicidal thoughts
Suicide prevention is a global challenge. Globally, around 800,000 people take their lives every year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). In 2016, not counting assisted suicides, around 1,000 people in Switzerland took their own lives, a rate of 12 per 100,000, a rate comparable to the average across Europe. To understand suicide better, […]
Tobacco use costs Switzerland 5 billion francs a year
Health care in Switzerland is funded by a mixture of taxes and health insurance premiums. Much of the insurance premiums paid are compulsory with no discounts offered to non-smokers. According to figures recently published by the Swiss association for smoking, the annual direct medical costs of smoking are CHF 3 billion (2015), or CHF 350 […]
E-cigarettes to be taxed in Switzerland
Switzerland’s Federal council supports advice from a public health commission to tax e-cigarettes, according to Le Matin. The plan to tax e-cigarettes forms part of an update to Switzerland’s tobacco laws, which are to be extended to include other products containing nicotine. In addition, the proposed rules will ban e-cigarette use in non-smoking areas and […]
