We are the largest scientific network in Switzerland and provide advice to policy-makers and society on knowledge-based and socially relevant issues. About us

Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences SAMS

Health literacy in Switzerland - status and prospects

SWISS ACADEMIES REPORTS, VOL. 10, NO 4, 2015 

«Health literacy» is defined as the ability to orient oneself in the health care system, to understand the physician or to interpret disease symptoms properly. The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences have gathered information about status and prospects of health literacy in Switzerland.

Schweizerische Akademie der Medizinischen Wissenschaften (2015) Gesundheitskompetenz in der Schweiz – Stand und Perspektiven. Swiss Academies Reports 10 (4).

  • Swiss Young Academy SYA

    Compassionate Science - Integrating Empathy and Compassion in Research

    This report explores how empathy and compassion shape research practices across disciplines. Drawing on a review of existing literature and illustrative examples from early-career researchers, it shows that empathy and compassion are not abstract ideals but practical dimensions of research that can influence study design, relationships, data interpretation, and knowledge translation. Across fields, integrating these dimensions can strengthen trust, deepen understanding, improve collaboration, and enhance ethical reflexivity.

  • Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences a+

    STEM 2026: Where Switzerland stands today

    Twelve years on from the first STEM Youth Barometer, the new 2026 edition reveals that interest in STEM has remained largely stable, stereotypes persist, and women underestimate their own abilities. At the same time, the findings are more nuanced than expected and point to clear areas for improvement.

  • Swiss Academy of Sciences SCNAT

    Beyond the transaction: commodity trade and sustainable development

    This factsheet maps the sustainability links of commodity trade, identifies knowledge gaps, and outlines options for commodity hubs, including Switzerland, to reduce economic, environmental and social sustainability risks.

more

Contact

Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences

House of Academies
Laupenstrasse 7
P.O. Box
3001 Bern