Health Equity Forum 2025

The 4th Health Equity Forum took place on Friday 28.11.2025 in Bern, and it was a real success. The event was opened by Federal Councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, following the presentations of Nora Kronig Romero (director of the Swiss Croix-Rouge), Santino Severoni (director for health and migration at the WHO) and Paolo Bernasconi (member of the Global Agenda Council of the WEF). The matinee was dedicated to the political and sociétaux aspects of health and migration – illustrated by the key figures and the testimonies of personnel clearly demonstrating the urgency of action.

The après-midi to my accent on the questions plus techniques as well as on practical experiences. Laila Burla and Daniela Schuler of the Swiss Observatory of Health (obsan) present the latest women on the situation of health equity in Switzerland, with a focus on mental health, as Julia Brandenberger (Hôpital universitaire pédiatrique de l'Inselspital, Berne) and Kevin Morisod (Unisanté Lausanne) ont offer des éclairages précieux sur leurs projets de recherche. Examples of practice are also presented by Paola Assandro, Caroline Heiniger and Saskia Von Overbeck Ottino du CHUV Lausanne. The forum concluded with the contributions of Paola Caremi and Gianna Riva from Mendrisiotto Regione Aperta, who present their important work in the vicinity of the Fédéraux Asile Centres, also for an exciting round table.

Supported by the OFSP and the Novartis Foundation and model by Nina Havel, it will also offer a rich exchange as well as new impulses to promote equity in health in all of Switzerland. We warmly recommend all the people involved for this valuable and enriching day.

Download of presentations:

Opening / Welcome address: Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume Schneider

Keynote: Transformation of health systems – perspectives on migration and equity - Dr Santino Severoni, Director of Health and Migration, WHO Geneva

Living Humanity – Health equity starts with the most vulnerable - Nora Kronig Romero, Director, Swiss Red Cross

Equity and health: the case of asylum seekers - Dr. h.c. Paolo Bernasconi, Prof. em. HSG, Member of the Global Agenda Council WEF, former member of ICRC

Specialist presentation 1: Health – for everyone? Findings from the report on health inequality and the National Health Report 2025 - Laila Burla & Daniela Schuler, Swiss Health Observatory (Obsan)

Specialist presentation 2: Caring for a diverse population: when data and politics come together - PD Dr Julia Brandenberger, Paediatric Clinic, Inselspital Bern

Specialist presentation 3: Mental health and family dynamics of Syrian refugees in Switzerland – long-term study - Dr. med. Kevin Morisod, MD-PhD, Department of Vulnerabilities & Social Medicine, Unisanté Lausanne

Specialist presentation 4: Examples of an integrative and innovative concept for the care of families with a migrant background
- Dr Javier Sanchis, Department of Care for Migrant Children and Adolescents, Department of Psychiatry, CHUV Lausanne
- Dr Paola Assandro, Women, Mother and Child Department, CHUV Lausanne
- Dr Caroline Heiniger, Women, Mother and Child Department, CHUV Lausanne
- Dr Saskia Von Overbeck Ottino, Specialist in Psychiatry FMH, Children, Adolescents & Adults

Specialist presentation 5: Associazione Mendrisiotto Regione Aperta: Experiences near the federal asylum centres Paola Caremi & Gianna Riva, Mendrisiotto Regione Aperta