New research program on chronic diseases launched
The Swiss National Science Foundation launches the National Research Program "Health Care". 29 research teams are looking for solutions to provide better and more cost-effective care for chronically ill people.
More and more elderly and chronically ill people require long-term treatment and care. Around 80 percent of care costs fall into this area. The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) is launching National Research Program 74 "Health Care" (NRP 74) to improve the knowledge and data basis for the care of chronically ill people, to promote innovative approaches and to strengthen health services research in Switzerland.
Promoting knowledge transfer and strengthening research
"The NRP is intended to provide a basis for decisions on any adjustments to care," says Milo Puhan, president of the NRP 74 steering committee. "Policymakers, providers and patients should benefit very specifically from the research results." For the past five years, health services research in Switzerland has been supported by a private foundation under a grant program of the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS). Starting this year, NRP 74 will continue funding health services research in Switzerland and support the development of an internationally networked research community.
The right supply for different needs
An important goal of NRP 74 is to reduce patient overuse. "Overuse includes treatments that do not necessarily bring a health benefit or may even harm health," says Milo Puhan. This includes administering too many or inappropriate medications or performing surgeries that are not medically necessary. The research program also focuses on the undersupply of individual population groups. This is the case, for example, when the family doctor's office closes in rural areas, making access to primary care more difficult.
Strengthen collaboration between health professionals
The NRP 74 projects are designed to help develop new models of treatment and care for the chronically ill. "Our system is very centered on physicians, especially when it comes to reimbursement for services. However, in the care of the chronically ill, a physician is not needed in every case. Other professions are also important for good care," says Milo Puhan. The NRP is therefore investigating the interfaces between inpatient and outpatient care, as well as the care of sick people at home. On the other hand, the collaboration between professionals from different health care professions is being researched. In addition, the projects of NRP 74 contribute to improving the data situation in the care sector. This is necessary to ensure continuity of care, even during transitions. "This is not yet the case today, as hospitals and doctors' practices have their own systems, and there are a number of registers and health databases that are not linked," explains Milo Puhan.
The NRP in figures
NRP 74 has a budget of 20 million Swiss francs. The SNSF has so far approved 29 projects out of a total of 173 proposals received. The descriptions of the projects are now available on the NRP website. Further calls for proposals are expected to follow. The projects will start in 2017 at ten research institutions (cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences and others) throughout Switzerland. First research results are expected from 2020 onwards. The publication of the program synthesis is planned for 2022.
On March 1, 2017, the Symposium for Health Services Research of the SAMS in Bern takes place.
Text: Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
