FOPH Switzerland: what is the Federal Office of Public Health?

1. What is the FOPH?

The Federal Office of Public Health is a Swiss authority operating at the national level. It is part of the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA).

The FOPH is responsible for public health and the further development of Swiss health policy. On an international level, the FOPH represents Switzerland on health issues regarding other countries and in international organizations.

2. What are the tasks of the FOPH?

The FOPH has many different tasks. Its responsibilities include, but aren’t limited to:

• Maintenance and development of social health and accident insurance

• Monitoring contagious diseases

• National programmes, e.g. for combating addictive behaviour (tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs) or dealing with HIV/AIDS

• Adopting and monitoring legal provisions in the area of consumer protection (such as for food, chemicals, medicines, cosmetic products and consumer goods)

• Adopting legal regulations for the education and training of health professionals

3. What does the FOPH have to do with health insurance companies?

The FOPH is the supervisory authority for compulsory basic insurance. It ensures that the Federal Health Insurance Act is consistently applied.

To this end, the FOPH receives the annual reports, budgets, annual accounts and the premiums for the following year from the health insurers by the end of July. The FOPH approves the premiums submitted by the insurers for the coming year. This usually happens at the end of September. Only then will the premiums be valid.

4. FOPH health insurance comparison: what is the FOPH premium calculator?

The FOPH has its own premium calculator. At priminfo.ch (link available in German, French, Italian) you can compare the health insurance premiums for basic insurance .

Good to know: to make sure you won’t miss the cancellation deadline, Comparis offers a cancellation reminder.