Health Literacy – A key to better healthcare
26 May 2025 | Comment(s) |
Luca Strebel
Health literacy is a key factor in promoting good health among the population. But what exactly is health literacy, why is it so important, and what needs to be improved in Switzerland?
What is Health Literacy?
Health literacy refers to the ability to find, understand, evaluate and use health information to make decisions that have a positive impact on one's own health. It is not just about knowing medical terms, but also about assimilating complex health information and using it appropriately in everyday life. It involves both personal skills and the ability of healthcare professionals to provide understandable and accessible information.
Why is Health Literacy important?
A high level of health literacy is essential for preventing illness, navigating the healthcare system and actively managing one's own health. Studies show that people with better health literacy are healthier and generate lower healthcare costs. In Switzerland, however, there is still considerable room for improvement, as shown by the results of the Swiss Health Literacy Survey 2019–2021.
What are the current challenges in Switzerland?
The results of this survey show that many people in Switzerland have difficulty understanding and using health information. Socially disadvantaged groups in particular often have poorer health skills, which leads to health inequalities. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.
What needs to be improved?
Several measures are needed to improve health literacy in Switzerland:
- Education and awareness: health literacy should be promoted from school onwards. This lays the foundations for a healthy life.
- Accessibility of information: health information must be understandable and accessible. This includes the use of digital media and the provision of information in different languages.
- Strengthening individual responsibility: people should be encouraged to play an active role in their own healthcare. This can be achieved through information campaigns and support measures.
- Support for disadvantaged groups: particular attention should be paid to people whose health literacy is lower due to social or economic factors. Targeted measures and programmes are needed in this regard.
What contribution can health insurers make?
Health insurers play a central role in improving the population's health literacy. By conducting targeted information campaigns and providing understandable and accessible health information, they can contribute, as partners of the insured, to better informing the latter and enabling them to make informed decisions. Another important aspect is supporting digital literacy in health by providing user-friendly online platforms and apps that facilitate access to health information.
Conclusion
Health literacy is a key factor in the health of the population. It is important to improve health literacy in Switzerland in order to reduce inequalities and improve health for all. The results of the Swiss Health Literacy Survey 2019-2021 show that action is needed.
In the next blog, we will discuss health insurance literacy. Find out what health insurance literacy is and why it is so important to understand the health insurance landscape.
