The Bundesrat wants to be less “surprised” by the next virus

In the event of a pandemic or epidemic, the Federal Council wants to regulate the supply of medical supplies and protective equipment more bindingly. This is evident from the statement of the Federal Council on the recommendations of the Business Audit Commission (GPK-N) of the National Council on the national economic offer (see resources).

In concrete terms, the Epidemics Act will be supplemented that the Confederation and the cantons, among other things, set minimum substantive requirementswith regard to the plans, the division of labor between the Confederation and the cantons and the responsibilities for implementation. This is according to the report published on Thursday.

The Epidemics Act should also be new Delivery conditions mandatory some of which were already included in the pandemic plan, such as the recommendations on storage of medical goods.

In the pandemic plan, the mandatory storage the national economic supply, to which, for example protective masks should be supplemented. It is currently being examined whether new medicines should be added, of which a mandatory stock must be built up.

In the future, he should Pandemic plan also available digitally to be. In addition, the exchange of data between the different actors should be simplified.

The Bundesrat sees no need to follow up on the emergency stock recommendations. Both masks and disinfectants are already included.

The Bundesrat does want to improve communication about the recommended emergency stock. The population should be aware of supply problems and prepare for possible shortages, the statement said.

To arrive at a corresponding concept, the current offer and the information channels for improvements should be analyzed in a study. In addition, the emergency supplies brochure will be modernized and translated into different languages.

“Suggestions for Optimization Measures” are prepared to clearly define the competences of the administrative units in material management. The Federal Council wrote that the aim is to be able to act quickly in the event of a future crisis in the purchase, management, allocation and distribution of necessary medical supplies and to set up appropriate structures.

The GPK-N criticized that the respective areas of competence were not regulated clearly enough. She asks for clarification of which administrative unit is responsible for operations in which case.

(dsc/sda)