Principles of action
Universal access to healthcare
We are fighting for effective universal access to healthcare, which is essential not only for individual health, but also in theinterests of public health.
This universal access still does not exist in Switzerland, where healthcare costs and the proportion of these costs borne by the individual are among the highest in the world.
Many people find themselves outside the healthcare system, unable to access the care they need and should be able to receive.
This mainly concerns :
- who are insured and refuse care because their deductible is too high
- who do not have health insurance coverage in Switzerland
- who have been excluded by cantonal blacklists*; or
- Swiss nationals returning from abroad who are excluded from health insurance coverage because they are suspected of only returning for medical treatment
- who cannot benefit from an expensive treatment authorized in Switzerland because it is not reimbursed by health insurance, such as PrEP
- who forgo treatment for fear of real or anticipated stigmatization or rejection by the healthcare system.
Furthermore, even if health insurance is compulsory, administrative and legal barriers to membership remain high, and have a disproportionate impact on people who are socially, economically and/or legally vulnerable.
*While the canton of Geneva has not authorized the use of blacklists by insurers, they do exist in eight cantons.
Fight against discrimination
Belonging to a minority group in terms of sexual orientation, gender identity, origin or migratory background still gives rise to a great deal of discrimination.
Whether real or anticipated, they are a factor ofexclusion in the healthcare pathways of the people concerned, who consequently make less use of traditional healthcare structures.
What’s more, we know that rates of precariousness and poverty are even higher among people already suffering from other social or legal forms of discrimination.
Combating such discrimination is one of the objectives of most of our projects. It is a common thread running through our activities, particularly in our training courses, communication materials and information campaigns.
The Legal Department identifies and denounces cases of discrimination in the field of health and, where necessary, takes legal action and approaches the authorities and legal bodies.
With and for communities
We’re convinced that it’s only by working with the people concerned that we can provide solutions that meet their real needs. They are the key players in understanding and taking action on their health.
Our community-based approach puts people at the heart of our actions. It implies the collectivization of people’s skills, abilities and resources, and aims for their active participation, involving them both in the decision-making processes that concern them and in their implementation.
The aim is to develop theempowerment of the communities we meet, i.e. their power to act and their autonomy.
Ultimately, this approach aims for social transformation, in terms of integrating marginalized and vulnerable communities to combat social and health inequalities.
Everything under one roof: an integrated approach
A global vision of health
We take a holistic approach to health, offering services and activities that influence its determinants.
Faced with an increase in the number of people presenting complex situations involving several vulnerability factors with a direct or indirect impact on their health (e.g. no legal residency status, health insurance or housing), a transdisciplinary approach to multiple services offered under the same association roof has been developed and strengthened.
This enables us to prioritize the needs of the people we meet, through a person-centred approach. Our medical, legal and social teams therefore work together to bring their expertise to bear in the search for lasting solutions to promote the social integration and empowerment of the people we meet.
