This week, the Federal Council set the direction for Swiss international cooperation from 2029 onward. The focus on efficiency is welcome, but it also warrants careful consideration.
A substantial share of the budget is expected to shift from long-term development cooperation to humanitarian assistance. Given the growing number of crises, this may seem reasonable, yet it risks undermining hard-won progress. A recent study published in The Lancet Global Health found that development assistance has been associated with a 56% reduction in malaria mortality and a 70% reduction in HIV/AIDS deaths. These are not abstract statistics, they are lives saved.
Progress in global health, whether in the fight against malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), the sustainable strengthening of health systems, or global disease surveillance, requires long-term partnerships and investment. It cannot be replaced by short-term humanitarian responses. Long-term investment remains the better safeguard against future crises.
Switzerland’s strengths and achievements in global health are built on effective collaboration among research institutions, NGOs, companies, and international organizations. This has contributed to longer life expectancy across the Global South, stronger health systems, and greater security for all of us. Reliable, long-term financing is essential if this progress is to continue.
The new 2029–2032 strategy must continue to clearly prioritize investment in disease control, including malaria and NTDs, as well as in health systems and global health cooperation. Not least because doing so is in our own interest.
Switzerland’s leadership in global health is built on long-term commitment. The next strategy should build on that foundation.
Manuel Hetzel, President, Swiss Malaria Group
Lorenz Indermühle, President, Swiss Alliance for Neglected Tropical Diseases
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