Federal Council rejects "nursing care initiative
At its meeting on March 9, 2018, the Federal Council voted in favor of rejecting the popular initiative "For strong care (care initiative)". It has instructed the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA), in collaboration with the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) and the relevant stakeholders, to examine and draw up concrete measures to improve the situation of nursing professionals.
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The Federal Council understands the demand of the initiators that the Confederation and the cantons continue to work together for sufficient and well-qualified Nursing staff have to use. With the Master Plan for Education in the Nursing Professions 2010-2015, together with the cantons, it has already outlined measures to counter the shortage of skilled workers in the nursing professions. The master plan is beginning to bear fruit. Training qualifications in basic vocational training are rising. In addition, the Federal Council adopted further projects in 2016 as part of the skilled workers initiative, which are aimed in particular at the area of long-term care. These include a support program for people re-entering the workforce, as well as a campaign to improve the image of apprenticeships and careers in long-term care. The federal government is also committed to supporting companies that want to make their working conditions more attractive.
Constitutional article on primary health care would be sufficient
The Federal Council shares the view of the initiative committee that nursing, like family medicine, is an indispensable part of the primary health care is. However, it notes that the constitutional article on basic medical care (117a BV) is sufficient for the strengthening of care by the Confederation and cantons within the framework of existing competences, as called for by the initiators. The Federal Council is also convinced that direct billing of care services to the compulsory health insurance (OKP) without coordinating measures would lead to an increase in volume and thus to undesirable consequences. Cost developments in the health care system should lead to a reduction of the initiative. However, the Federal Council has instructed the FDHA to examine and develop further measures with the involvement of the most important players and the initiative committee. The justified concerns of the initiators are to be taken up with concrete solutions within the framework of existing competencies.
Publisher: The Federal Council & Federal Office of Public Health
More info about the Nursing Initiative
