Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)

The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) is a Swiss federal authority under the Federal Department of Home Affairs, tasked with the responsibility of national public health governance. Its core mission encompasses the development and implementation of Switzerland's health policy, ensuring an efficient, high-quality, and affordable healthcare system for the population. The FOPH manages national healthcare policies, including health and accident insurance regulatory frameworks. It actively promotes healthcare interests in both domestic and international arenas. Among its diverse activities, the FOPH issues practical guidance documents aimed at improving patient safety—for example, advising healthcare providers on the appropriate use of radiological examinations to balance diagnostic benefit against risks. It also operates environmental health monitoring stations, such as Europe’s highest-altitude radioactivity monitoring station located at the Jungfraujoch (over 3,400 meters above sea level), to track and analyze environmental radioactivity affecting public health. Public health communication forms a significant part of its mandate, providing information on protecting individuals from respiratory infections caused by pathogens like influenza viruses, the coronavirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These efforts include guidance on minimizing infection transmission risks in communal indoor settings. Additionally, the FOPH plays a key role in regulating medicine prices to secure a sustainable balance between patient access to essential and innovative treatments and the affordability of healthcare. Through its multifaceted roles, the FOPH ensures continuity and advancement in Swiss public health, addressing environmental, preventive, regulatory, and informational dimensions to enhance population health outcomes.