AUTHOR=Maritz Roxanne , Weisstanner David , Stucki Gerold , Stoller Oliver , Scheel-Sailer Anke , Sturzenegger Christian , Sabariego Carla ,  The Center for Rehabilitation in Global Health Systems ,  The Advisory Board of the LIFE Forum Rehabilitation 
  
TITLE=Policy brief: how can rehabilitation be strengthened in Switzerland? Evidence-informed policy considerations based on the 2023 World Health Assembly resolution on strengthening rehabilitation in health systems
  
JOURNAL=Public Health Reviews
  
VOLUME=Volume 47 - 2026
  
YEAR=2026
  
URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/public-health-reviews/articles/10.3389/phrs.2026.1609467
  
DOI=10.3389/phrs.2026.1609467
  
ISSN=2107-6952
  
ABSTRACT=BackgroundRehabilitation needs in Switzerland are rising due to population ageing and the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Yet, these needs are not comprehensively met and rehabilitation remains underrepresented in national strategies. Given the 2023 WHA Resolution on Rehabilitation, there is a growing need to understand how rehabilitation can be strengthened in Switzerland.AnalysisA national stakeholder survey identified challenges for strengthening rehabilitation, including financing and workforce issues, limited integration into primary care, and interprofessional collaboration, while main opportunities focused on policy development and advocacy efforts. Based on these findings, experts developed practical policy considerations through structured workshops and a consolidation survey.Policy considerationsThe 22 considerations call for high-level commitment through a National Swiss Rehabilitation Alliance, financing reforms that value rehabilitation as investment, and expansion of affordable, high-quality services across all care levels, among others. They emphasize coordinated care pathways, quality mechanisms, workforce development, modern data systems, stronger research and knowledge translation, and equitable access to assistive technologies.ConclusionThese considerations provide practical directions for integrating rehabilitation into national health priorities and advancing Swiss implementation of the WHA Resolution.