Fondation Groupe Mutuel

Editorial

“Everything comes to pass.”

Nothing remains the same from one moment to the next: everything comes to pass, everything changes, everything evolves all the time... This is what Heraclitus of Ephesus, a Greek philosopher, expressed in such famous quotes as: “Everything passes, nothing remains.” The two-year health crisis and the Russia-Ukraine war are cruel reminders of this.

Last year, in this same report, I already mentioned the future consequences of COVID-19 on the economy. The global pandemic, which lasted two years, seems to be behind us. Unfortunately, however, a new period of uncertainty and vulnerability has begun with the war in Ukraine. Many people still need help, support and guidance and it is our social and economic responsibility to do everything we can to remain by their side and to help them in the best possible way.

Fondation Groupe Mutuel, set up in 2018, is also working towards this goal. In 2021 once again, Fondation Groupe Mutuel funded not only projects and associations, but also studies and research related to the health system.

Together with the Foundation’s Board, I am particularly proud to say that we have been able to provide significant support to TWIICE. This association is currently developing a lower limb exoskeleton, which enables people with paraplegia to stand up, walk and climb stairs. TWIICE helps people with disabilities, including children, to become more autonomous and mobile. 

Also in 2021, our Foundation inaugurated a new national partnership with Fondation Laureus Suisse for the next three years, an organisation that aims to offer children and young people a positive, healthy and independent life through sports.

Other significant sponsorships have also been initiated. This was for example the case with a solidarity initiative of the RTS Swiss Television, which took place last December. Last but not least, Fondation Groupe Mutuel was able to help once again a number of private individuals who had contacted us to request  one-off financial support for their healthcare.

The challenges facing the Swiss healthcare system are numerous. Rising costs, the quality of healthcare, excessive regulation or inappropriate financial incentives... Much remains to be done.

Within this demanding and constantly evolving context, Groupe Mutuel intends to help to strengthen a liberal and financially sustainable health system that is focussed on patients and able to provide quality care. With this in mind, Groupe Mutuel promotes and supports research in health economics.

The aim is to assess the problems and challenges faced by the health system and to consider how to respond to them, as well as to contribute to discussions on improving the system and suggesting practical applications for Groupe Mutuel.

Funding for research focuses on two priority areas: excessive medical treatment (when a treatment is excessive and has no added value for the patient) and inappropriate care (medical benefits that are not indicated for the symptom or pathology from which the patient is suffering, and which may even present a risk for health or well-being).

In our Activity Report, you will find a summary of the actions and support we provided in 2021. Over 40 associations from all over the country, whether in German, French or Italian-speaking Switzerland, were funded by Fondation Groupe Mutuel in 2021. These are associations and foundations with tangible, ambitious and sustainable health-related projects in a wide range of fields.

The Foundation’s objectives are ambitious. It is committed to health and prevention and supports Groupe Mutuel's private and corporate clients, as well as non-profit entities, in their efforts to promote health in Switzerland.

I look forward to being able to continue to oversee and further improve the actions of Fondation Groupe Mutuel over the next few years, to respond even more closely to the needs of the most disadvantaged and support these persons in a hands-on way, without administrative hassle or judgement. In other words, to be committed to the most disadvantaged, while remaining at your side. This is our role, our duty, and our mission. 

Karin Perraudin,
President

Commitments

Set up in 2018, Fondation Groupe Mutuel develops its activities on a non-profit basis. It supports the well-being of Swiss people, as well as health promotion and prevention measures. In 2021, the Foundation continued to pursue commitments that are fully in line with its objectives.

Institutional support
An incentive fund was set up for institutions, associations and individuals involved in the health sector in Switzerland. For health prevention and promotion initiatives, as well as for research and education, the Foundation provides financial support for particularly useful projects.

Support for individual insured persons
Unexpected expenses due to a serious illness or an accident can quickly affect a household’s financial situation. In the same way, innovative treatments not yet officially recognised in Switzerland are sometimes too expensive for some people. Aware of this, Fondation Groupe Mutuel has set up a fund to grant exceptional and one-off financial support to a number of insured persons whose application will have been selected and carefully reviewed by specialists.

Support to associations
In 2021, over 40 associations from all over the country, whether in German, French or Italian-speaking Switzerland, were supported by Fondation Groupe Mutuel. These are associations and foundations with tangible, ambitious and sustainable health-related projects in a wide range of fields.

TWIICE: a concrete example
Fondation Groupe Mutuel is providing financial support for a project that will enable 14-year-old Noa to make substantial progress in his mobility. Noa is a boy with reduced mobility who wants to learn how to walk like everyone else. As part of a research project, TWIICE will adapt existing exoskeleton technology to Noa’s specific needs and aspirations. For three years, Noa will have the opportunity to regularly use an exoskeleton in a variety of settings: at home, in his community and in real-life activities. We have decided to support this project because our Foundation attaches great importance to the growth and development of children in a rewarding and enriching way.

A national partnership between Fondation Groupe Mutuel and Fondation Laureus
Our Foundation inaugurated a new national partnership with Fondation Laureus Suisse for the next three years, an organisation that aims to offer children and young people a positive, healthy and independent life through sports. Through sports and the values it promotes, Fondation Laureus supports the integration and personality development of children and young people, as well as their physical and mental health. Fondation Laureus stands by young people who need support, regardless of their gender, origin, religion, social class or disability. It supports more than 10,000 children in Switzerland every year through social and sports projects. Within this partnership, Groupe Mutuel intends to promote sport for young people.

“Tout est possible!” 
Since “Coeur à Coeur”, an RTS-led event, did not take place last year, Groupe Mutuel joined forces with RTS for its solidarity initiative "Tout est possible!” (Everything is possible). This campaign saw more than 1,670 people in French-speaking Switzerland become involved in 55 projects, all of which were designed to improve the infrastructure or activities of non-profit associations. In all cantons, enthusiastic members of the community rolled up their sleeves and made themselves available to associations to renovate premises, design websites, set up a library, repair furniture, cook, refurbish a workshop, open a washroom, help vulnerable people or plant trees.

Studies and projects in health economics, support for research
The challenges facing the Swiss healthcare system are numerous. Rising costs, the quality of healthcare, excessive regulation or inappropriate financial incentives... Much remains to be done. Within this demanding and constantly evolving context, Groupe Mutuel intends to help to strengthen a liberal and financially sustainable health system that is focussed on patients and able to provide quality care. With this in mind, Groupe Mutuel promotes and supports research in health economics. Support for research focuses on two priority areas: excessive medical treatments and inappropriate care. For example, in 2021, a study was conducted on the minimum number of cases, with the aim of investigating the link between the number of cases treated and mortality rates in Swiss hospitals. In addition, Groupe Mutuel, Basel University Hospital and Hôpital de La Tour have launched a pilot project called "Pay for Patient Value", which aims to set up an innovative pricing system based on quality and added value in orthopaedics and urology.

Governance

Foundation Board

President
Mrs Karin Perraudin

Vice-President
Mr Georges Zünd

Secretary
Mr Daniel Bitschnau

Members

• Mr Claude Bähler
• Mr Marc André Ballestraz
• Mrs Anne-Laure Couchepin
• Mr Mathieu Dorsaz
• Mr Fabio Naselli Feo
• Mr Laurent Nicod
• Mr Christian Spillmann
• Mr Willem Wynaendts