Involving patients and consumers in Swissmedic’s regulatory processes: From information sharing to participation

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the value of public engagement as a way of building confidence in innovative treatments, diagnostics, and vaccines for coronavirus-induced disease that have been brought to market readiness within a very short space of time. Developing public trust and engagement extends beyond providing transparent research results and evidence-based information to creating a framework for a dialogue that includes patients’ perspectives. Whereas frameworks exist in the US, the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany, systematic patient involvement in Switzerland’s healthcare system is still taking root. Even though Swiss policymakers acknowledge the importance of stakeholder involvement in healthcare, tangible, overarching forms and systems of participation are only gradually being rolled out. Swissmedic, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, is also tackling the issue of how to integrate patients and the public into its regulatory processes. As it responds to this issue, Swissmedic aims to not only adopt current approaches but also actively create solutions that give patients a voice and incorporate their experiences and concerns into regulatory processes wherever possible.