Federal Councillor Baume-Schneider travelled to Warsaw at the invitation of the Polish Minister of Health Izabela Leszczyna. The informal ministerial meetings are organised twice a year by the incumbent presidency of the Council of the EU. Switzerland and other EFTA states are regularly invited to attend. Participation in these meetings makes it possible to jointly address international challenges in the public health sector.
The discussions focused on the mental health of children and adolescents, and the impact of digital technologies on young people. The health ministers also discussed the security of pharmaceutical supplies and the strengthening of supply chains for essential medicines. Also on the agenda was the topic of health promotion and disease prevention, including efforts to intensify experience-sharing in Europe. Participation at the meeting made it possible for Federal Councillor Baume-Schneider to provide information on Switzerland’s work in this area.
On the margins of the meeting, Federal Councillor Baume-Schneider had the opportunity to hold discussions with various counterparts. She also met with Olivér Várhelyi, the European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare. On this occasion, Federal Councillor Baume-Schneider discussed collaboration between Switzerland and the EU in the health sector and, in particular, the planned bilateral health agreement.
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Federal Department of Home Affairs, +41 (0)58 462 85 79, media@gs-edi.admin.ch
