Public Health Cluster

Identifying and advising

Following on from the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Public Health Cluster represents a further development of previous expert bodies – the Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force (2020–2022) and the Scientific Advisory Panel COVID-19 (2022–2024) – and forms part of the National Science Advice Network, a national structure for scientific policy advice in crisis situations.

The Cluster is tasked with identifying threats to health at an early stage, preparing evidence-based analyses and thus strengthening Switzerland’s crisis prevention and preparation in the area of public health. It contributes to the resilience of the system by accelerating the flow of information, supporting soundly based decisions, and, when necessary, helping to set up a scientific advisory panel.

The members of the Cluster undertake to act as “honest brokers” – impartial scientific intermediaries who present options and scenarios without making any specific policy recommendations. Their work is based on the Code of Practice for participants in the Swiss National Science Advice Network (more information about it on the Organisation page).

A modular, reactive structure

The Cluster is divided into three permanent subclusters and a number of temporary working groups:

Permanent subclusters

Pathogens

This subcluster is led jointly by Professor Tanja Stadler (ETH Zurich) and Professor Samia Hurst (University of Geneva), and deals with emerging or circulating infectious diseases.

Health system

This subcluster is led jointly by Professor Luca Crivelli (SUPSI) and Professor Milo Puhan (UZH), and deals with the resilience of the healthcare system, including shortages of medical personnel and products.

Environmental health risks

This subcluster is led by Prof. Dr. Martin Röösli (Swiss TPH), and deals with the effects on health of environmental factors such as environmental pollution, radiation, natural disasters and industrial accidents.

Temporary working groups

Temporary working groups are set up by the steering committee as necessary, to provide fast, targeted scientific support in the face of newly emerging health risks.

Working group on H5N1 – Avian influenza

Led by Professor Richard Neher (University of Basel)
This group brings together experts in the fields of virology, epidemiology and public health, in order to monitor and analyse risks connected with the spread of the H5N1 virus. It holds regular discussions with the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).

Working group on radiological hazards

This group deals with health risks caused by radiation exposure, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine. It works closely with the relevant federal agencies, including the extra-parliamentary committee on radiation protection.