Evaluation in the FOPH

Evaluation serves to assess the benefit and value of health policy measures. It contributes to to developing strategies, optimising impact and enhancing accountability to political actors and the public. It promotes learning within the organisation.

Evaluations systematically study the benefit and value of

  • legislation and its execution
  • strategies and their implementation
  • projects and their realisation

The results of evaluations must be readily comprehensible. They are based on empirically acquired qualitative and/or quantitative data.

Evaluations are a source of knowledge

Evaluation forms part of the acquisition of knowledge that is required in order for the Office and its units to fulfil their duties. The senior management of the FOPH determines the need for evaluations and sets the priorities.

Evaluations answer questions. The core questions of an evaluation are centred on 

  • relevance (significance of needs, or of a specific requirement or problem situation)
  • appropriateness (suitability of a measure for solving a problem)
  • effectiveness
  • (cost-)efficiency
  • coherence (consistency / freedom from contradictions – e.g. between measures within a health policy strategy)
  • contextual influences

of governmental and non-governmental action.

Evaluations serve a purpose

Evaluations help to optimise the effectiveness / efficacy of government and non-government action in the health field. They are used both to develop health policy strategies and to enhance accountability to political actors and the public. They additionally promote effect-orientated thinking and action on the part of the stakeholders. They similarly contribute towards learning within the organisation.

Evaluation projects are governed by guiding principles

The guiding principles governing the use of evaluations in the FOPH are:

  • evaluations are to be incorporated in the planning and implementation of health policy measures at an early stage
  • stakeholders are to be included in the evaluation projects
  • evaluations are to be geared to practical use
  • the focus is to be on externally commissioned evaluations in order to receive readily comprehensible, impartial judgements
  • strict compliance is to be ensured with the rules governing public procurement
  • effect-oriented thinking and action are to be promoted through evaluation projects
  • the transparency of the evaluation results is to be ensured

Further information

Evaluation reports

Evaluations are a source of knowledge that helps the FOPH and its partners to optimize the impact of health policy measures, in particular. Here you’ll find evaluation reports on a range of different themes.

Research in the FOPH

Research provides the FOPH with knowledge that is useful for guiding its decisions and practices.

Monitoring in the FOPH

Monitoring observes and highlights changes and trends in the area of health.

Last modification 03.09.2020

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Contact

Federal Office of Public Health FOPH
Management Services Division
Evaluation and Research Service
Schwarzenburgstrasse 157
3003 Bern
Switzerland
E-mail

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https://www.bag.admin.ch/content/bag/en/home/das-bag/ressortforschung-evaluation/evaluation-im-bag.html