Evaluation of the crisis organization in the first phase of the Covid 19 pandemic.
On September 23, 2022, the Federal Council took note of the report of the Parliamentary Business Audit Committee (GPK) on the crisis organization in the first phase of the Covid 19 pandemic. The report contains a number of recommendations on the Confederation's crisis organization.
On September 23, 2022, the Federal Council passed a Report of the parliamentary business audit commissions (GPK) on the crisis organization in the first phase of the Covid 19 pandemic. Among other things, the work and coordination of the main bodies of the crisis organization of the Covid 19 Task Force of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the Federal Civil Protection Staff (BSTB) and the Crisis Staff of the Federal Council Corona (KSBC) are examined. In particular, the pandemic phase from the beginning of January to June 2020 was examined.
Covid 19 pandemic "satisfactorily" managed
The report concludes that Switzerland, with its crisis organization, managed the pandemic "satisfactorily" on the whole. However, it also makes eleven recommendations on how the federal government's crisis management can be optimized in the future and how coordination between the individual agencies can be improved.
This includes, for example, collaboration with the scientific community, which was established and improved through the mandate of the Swiss National Covid-19 Science Task Force. In addition, according to the report, the network with the relevant external stakeholders was expanded and rapid involvement in crisis management was ensured (e.g. culture, gastronomy and travel industry).
Work in progress
Other ongoing work includes the revision of the Epidemics Act. The Federal Council is expected to be able to open the consultation on the revised law in summer 2023. The dispatch is to be referred to parliament in the course of 2024.
Further revisions are underway for the national pandemic plan. At the end of 2021, the Federal Commission for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (EKP) presented a rough concept of the future general pandemic plan. This provides for a new focus on all relevant potentially pandemic pathogens. The ongoing revision work will be coordinated with important precaution-relevant revision projects and plans, for example in the area of legal foundations, crisis management or the supply of critical goods.
Source: Federal Council/Editorial Office
