The healthcare sector is pinning its hopes on new national councils: they want to keep politics healthy

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Patrick Hässig (44) and Farah Rumy (31) do not have much time to prepare for their new position. Yesterday, the GLP politician from Zurich and the SP representative from Solothurn moved on to the National Council thanks to the success of their party colleagues in the Council of States. And in just two weeks, the winter session of the Parliament will begin in Bern, during which the newly elected will begin their work.

The short-term elections are not the only thing connecting the two new national councils. They are both trained nurses. Hässig, who used to be a radio presenter, works in a children’s department, Rumy worked in cardiology until recently and now works as a teacher in vocational education.

“Great success” for the healthcare sector

Yvonne Ribi (47), director of the Professional Association of Nursing Specialists (SBK), is extremely happy with the switch between them. Lawyers, farmers, entrepreneurs: there are many in the Federal Palace. But the healthcare sector has so far hardly been represented in parliament. And when they do, it’s usually by people who haven’t worked in the job for a long time.

“We have been working for fifteen years to get more nurses into politics,” says Ribi. This applies not only to the national level, but also to the cantonal level. The fact that two representatives of the industry will politicize in the Federal Palace in the future is a “great success”.

Full commitment to the healthcare initiative

An important reason why the healthcare sector is so keen on representation in parliament is the healthcare initiative. In 2021, voters accepted the initiative that aims to improve the situation in healthcare. Since then, the association has been fighting to ensure that the initiative is implemented consistently. The association hopes to gain a stronger voice through direct representation in the Federal Parliament. To be able to cope with the strong healthcare lobby.

“My clear mission is to fully implement the healthcare initiative,” says Hässig. He and Farah Rumy, who have both been involved in politics in the cantonal parliament, relied entirely on their professional backgrounds during the election campaign. Hässig posed in his white hospital uniform on his election posters and presented himself as “the voice of nursing in Bern”. Farah promised to work for a sustainable healthcare system.

“I feel a certain level of expectation”

The fact that they scored points with this content is probably also a result of the corona pandemic. The nurses’ work became visible during the Covid period. Rising health insurance premiums also put a spotlight on the health care system. The problems that need to be solved in this area are piling up.

Hässig says that after his election he received hundreds of messages from colleagues in the healthcare sector. “I feel a certain amount of anticipation,” he says – adding: “I hope I don’t disappoint you.” But he is aware: two nurses in the National Council cannot perform miracles. “It takes patience and majorities. I want to commit myself to that.”

Source:Blick