Health Protection Directorate

The Health Protection Directorate assesses opportunities and risks in the areas of biomedicine, chemicals and radiation. On the basis of its assessments, it draws up protection concepts and raises public awareness.

The Health Protection Directorate monitors the handling of chemicals, ionising and non-ionising radiation and pathogenic and genetically modified microorganisms. It authorises and inspects equipment that generates ionising radiation, such as X-rays, and monitors environmental radioactivity. It assesses opportunities and risks that result from advances in biomedicine and high-end medicine. It also draws up the corresponding legislative framework for areas including therapeutic products, human genetics, transplantation, human research and reproductive medicine.

Notification Authority for Chemicals

The Notification Authority for Chemicals is assigned administratively to the FOPH and is located within the Health Protection Directorate in organisational terms. It constitutes the common authority for the notification and authorisation of chemicals for the Federal Office of Public Health FOPH, the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO.

International Cooperation

The directorate helps to create a legislative framework on an international level and plays a coordinating role for Switzerland. It is thus involved in the creation of fair, clear and internationally harmonised legislation for consumers, patients and business. It additionally ensures the implementation and enforcement of the legislation.

Stéfanie Monod
Head of Health Protection Directorate, Vice Director, Member of Senior Management (since 2025)

• Further information on Stéfanie Monod

  Education

  Medicine, Dr. med.

  Professional career

  2021–2025 Ordinary Professor at the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of the University of Lausanne, Chief physician and Co-head of the Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Centre for General Medicine and Public Health (Unisanté) | 2014–2021 General Director of the Department of Health, Department of Health and Social Affairs, Canton of Vaud | 2009–2013 Senior physician, Geriatrics and geriatric rehabilitation service, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) | 2002–2008 Senior physician, Geriatrics and geriatric rehabilitation service, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) | 1995–2002 Assistant physician in general internal medicine, surgery, psychiatry and geriatrics

Newsletter Health Protection

Would you like to receive news from the Health Protection Directorate?

Our newsletter covers issues such as nanotechnology, ionising radiation, radioactivity and noise, as well as the marketing and safe handling of chemical products.

Subscribe to our health protection newsletter in German or French

Further topics