National Network for Disaster Medicine KATAMED (formerly Coordinated Medical Service CMS)
As part of this process, the CMS was renamed the National Network for Disaster Medicine (KATAMED), while the FOCP Partner Network unit has become the Disaster Medicine (KATAMED) unit. These changes are aimed at helping healthcare partners in Switzerland to prepare for and respond to exceptional situations more effectively. KATAMED's tasks are based on a new vision that emphasises close cooperation in order to provide optimal healthcare in exceptional situations. While the main responsibility for healthcare remains with the cantons, the role of the FOCP is to facilitate this new vision. KATAMED's task is to help partners manage exceptional situations that have an impact on the healthcare sector. These include major incidents, disasters, emergency situations and armed conflict affecting several cantons, the whole of Switzerland or neighbouring countries, as well as situations that result in a large number of patients or have a particularly serious impact on health.
The Federal Council adopted the revised ordinance on coordinating medical services on 1 May 2025. The ordinance forms the basis for further work to reorganise the system. The reorganisation report summarises the work carried out so far and is to be used as the basis for a National Action Plan on Disaster Medicine, which has been commissioned by the Federal Council. The plan will include developing concrete measures, quantifying the necessary human and financial resources, and clarifying responsibility for funding and implementation between federal government, the cantons and third parties. A draft with proposed measures has been drawn up in collaboration with the advisory committee and priority areas of action have been identified. These include education, management and training, incident and emergency planning, and resources (personnel, logistics, strategic patient distribution, infrastructure) for responding to exceptional situations. The action plan will be implemented by the cantons, their partners and the federal government. On adoption of the final National Action Plan on Disaster Medicine, the committees of the Swiss Security Network (SSN) will be expanded to include the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA), the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), and the Chair and General Secretariat of the Conference of the Cantonal Ministers of Public Health (CMPH) for steering and supervision purposes.
The action plan is expected to be finalised by the end of 2026. Details of the ongoing work can be found in the reorganisation report (German, French and Italian):