Advance care planning (ACP) strengthens self-determination in medical matters, particularly in situations where decision-making capacity is lost. Since 2021, a national working group led by SAMS and the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has been pursuing the goal of further establishing ACP in Switzerland and embedding it in everyday practice. This page provides information about the mandate given to the national working group by the Swiss Federal Council.
Reflecting on questions relating to one’s own quality of life, treatment preferences in the case of progressive illness, and the finitude of life is a key prerequisite for self-determination and, ultimately, for a dignified death. This conviction is also shared by the Swiss Federal Council, which has addressed the issue in greater depth in recent years, including in Postulate Report 18.3384 (available in French or German).
In this report, the Swiss Federal Council mandated the FOPH, in collaboration with SAMS, to establish a permanent working group on Advance Care Planning (ACP, see Measure 1A, p. 67). The objectives and composition of the working group are described on p. 67 of the report, English translation: The working group aims to further specify the concept of ACP and to implement appropriate measures (e.g. the development of uniform quality standards for advance directives, improving the accessibility of documentation, and awareness-raising measures among healthcare professionals and the general public). It is composed of representatives of patient organisations, health leagues and other organisations already providing counselling on this topic, the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ), the Conference on the Protection of Minors and Adults (COPMA), the Conference of Cantonal Health Directors (GDK/CDS) and the cantons, provider organisations, professional and specialist associations, educational institutions, etc.
Integration in the Primary Care Agenda
ACP is also identified as a specific measure in the Primary Care Agenda (available in French or German), published in 2025 under the leadership of the FOPH, to strengthen the role of patients and their relatives in prevention and care. In particular, promoting ACP is expected to lead to improvements in the provision of primary medical care in residential and nursing homes. For this reason, healthcare professionals responsible for care provision should in future have advanced expertise in ACP (see Measure A1.2, pp. 19–20).
Concept for implementation
The ACP working group was established in 2021 by the FOPH and the SAMS. It is responsible for overseeing the overall process for implementing the measures and for defining strategic and substantive priorities. Detailed information can be found in the following documents:
- OFSP/ASSM: Projet de soins anticipé (ProSA) – Propositions pour la mise en œuvre (2021, in French) PDF, 391 KB
- BAG/SAMW: Gesundheitliche Vorausplanung – Konzeptvorschlag für die Umsetzung (2021, in German) PDF, 421 KB
- OFSP/ASSM: Projet de soins anticipé (ProSA) – Fondements et contexte (2023, in French) PDF, 173 KB
- BAG/SAMW: Gesundheitliche Vorausplanung – Grundlagen und Hintergrundinformationen (2023, in German) PDF, 155 KB
From concept to roadmap
As an initial basis, the national working group developed a model containing specific recommendations in four areas:
1) Raising public awareness
2) Support for ACP for all
3) The role of professionals in healthcare, social services and counselling
4) Improving the quality of instruments and processes
The document was submitted for public consultation in 2022. The level of interest and engagement was remarkable: the ACP working group received 170 responses. On this basis, the broadly supported «Roadmap for the implementation of advance care planning (ACP) in Switzerland» was published in March 2023.
The Roadmap is available in three additional languages (German/French/Italian) on the main Advance care planning page. The page also provides information on the ongoing work of the ACP working group and its subprojects.
Related topics
ACP in retirement and nursing homes
Practical tools from the FOPH: Strengthening patient autonomy in French or German
FOPH thematic page on Advance Care Planning in French or German