The talks between Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider and her counterpart Mónica García Gómez focused on healthcare digitalisation, and in particular on the electronic patient record. The ministers discussed the opportunities and challenges arising in this area. Spain’s institutional organisation, as in Switzerland, is decentralised, and the country has extensive experience with electronic health records, use of which has been standard practice for Spanish patients since 2015. Other topics covered were primary care and the ongoing negociations between Switzerland and the European Union concerning a health agreement.
In addition, the Head of the FDHA met with the Health Minister for the autonomous community of Madrid, Fátima Matute Teresa, to discuss the application of electronic health records in practice. Federal Councillor Baume-Schneider also discussed the topic of digital transformation in healthcare with doctors, researchers, patients and officials.
Combating violence against women
The second day of the working visit to Spain is devoted to the topic of gender equality and efforts to combat violence against women. After a planned exchange at the Ministry of Equality Federal Councillor Baume-Schneider will be visiting the COMETA Control Centre, which is responsible for electronic monitoring of offenders. COMETA receives and coordinates alarms triggered by monitoring devices when restraining orders are breached (offenders entering an exclusion area). This system helps to protect victims and to prevent gender-based domestic violence.
Address for enquiries:
Communication GS-FDHA, tel. +41 58 462 85 79, media@gs-edi.admin.ch