In the past, the bourgeois politicians tore themselves over the highly paid mandates of the health insurance companies. But now an influential association is having a hard time finding a new president. Perhaps the days of «parliamentarian shopping» are over.
Heinz Brand makes room at the head of the Santésuisse health insurance association, his successor is open.
Adrian Baer / NZZ
Once upon a time, anyone who makes it into the health commissions (SGK) of the National Council and the Council of States has it big lot drawn. Because the actors in the health sector rush to the parliamentarians and provide them with lucrative mandates. Up to now, the health insurance companies and their two umbrella organizations have always been at the forefront.
A special record of performance in health policy is not a prerequisite. In 2018 the health insurance association Curafutura had to look for a new president after Ignazio Cassis – at least a doctor – made the leap to the Federal Council. The choice fell on the FDP Council of States Josef Dittli, who had previously been a teacher, career officer and Uri security and finance director. Heinz Brand, president of the rival association Santésuisse since 2015, was also more likely to attract attention as a security and migration politician.
Now Santésuisse has a problem. Because Heinz Brand missed his re-election in 2019. For two years now, the association has not had a direct line to parliament and the SGK. The 66-year-old will be stepping down in the summer, officially for reasons of age. That is why the association has been looking for a successor to Brand for some time – so far without success. It can’t be because of the financial incentives. Unlike Curafutura, Santésuisse does not provide any information about the compensation of the Board President. But the remuneration should not be much lower than the 140,000 francs that Josef Dittli receives for the 40 percent job at Curafutura. The compensation is “a matter of negotiation”, it is said on request.
“No interest”
As the NZZ knows from various sources, Santésuisse asked several bourgeois parliamentarians whether they would succeed Brand in June want to compete. One of the candidates was reportedly the Bern SVP Council of States Werner Salzmann. Salzmann does not want to disclose whether there have been talks. But he makes it clear: “I wouldn’t be interested in this post anyway. My expertise lies in agricultural and security policy. ”
Salzmann is also not a member of Health commission. The fact that someone like him was asked shows that the selection of potential candidates for the Santésuisse top job at the SGK is limited. The left are out of the question because of their critical stance towards health insurance companies. And the SVP – and to a lesser extent the FDP – have been neglecting health policy for a long time and have few high-profile minds. Little has changed in this regard at the two umbrella associations since the career changers Brand and Dittli were elected.
According to an insider, politicians are not interested in the Santésuisse Presidium Limits: Not only did Salzmann cancel, but also all other candidates had declined. As long as the health insurance industry is divided into Santésuisse and Curafutura and there are irreconcilable differences due to the big egos of the health insurance bosses, one can hardly earn laurels in this position. That scares the politicians off despite the high wages. Santésuisse denies this on request. “The presidium of Santésuisse is an attractive position in which numerous candidates are interested,” emphasizes the association spokesman Matthias Müller.
Spoilers Rieder
Another The reason for the rumored reluctance of the representatives of the people could be that the public today judges the “parliamentarian shopping” by the associations more critically than it already has. Beat Rieder’s parliamentary initiative is an expression of this new attitude. The Valais Center Council of States demands that parliamentarians are not allowed to accept paid mandates if they sit on a committee that makes decisions relevant to the respective companies or organizations.
The move would have far-reaching consequences, especially for the SGK members: lucrative positions in the health industry would no longer be an option. It remains to be seen whether Rieder will be able to prevail. The State Political Commissions (SPK) of both councils had originally spoken out in favor of the initiative, but in November the SPK of the Council of States turned around and recommended a rejection. Because time was running out, the plenary postponed the discussion last Thursday to the spring session.
Central National Councilor Lorenz Hess would, however – regardless of this debate – consider it sensible for Santésuisse to look around outside parliament. Hess used to work at the Federal Office of Public Health and is now President of the Board of Directors of the Visana health insurance company, which is part of Santésuisse. He says he has no ambitions for a job at the umbrella organization. “I prefer to be close to the operative business with an insurer.”
Hess also emphasizes: “Anyone who thinks that a good association president is characterized primarily by the fact that he sits in parliament is mistaken. Above all, he needs specialist knowledge. ” From a tactical point of view, it is not particularly clever when health insurances give top-level mandates to national councils or councils of states who have no idea about the health system. “So of course you provoke the criticism that you buy parliamentarians.” An association can also exert influence on the work of the commissions without having its own representative there.
The advantages of a former
It is quite possible that Santésuisse will follow Hess’ advice. After the unsuccessful search in Parliament , the association recently published a job advertisement
. We are looking for a “dynamic and entrepreneurial leader” aged 45 and over with “in-depth knowledge of the health care system and health policy”. Long-term management experience is desirable, but “an active or former personality from the federal parliament or at government council level could just as well be considered”.
From Lorenz Hess’ point of view, a former parliamentarian would be an ideal choice: “Such a person knows how things are going, has a broad network of contacts and would be less exposed to the accusation of lobbyists. ” It wouldn’t be a premiere. Heinz Brand’s predecessor, Christoffel Brändli, presided over Santésuisse twice. In the first phase from 2000 to 2008 he was also a member of the Graubünden SVP Council of States, the second term of office then fell after his resignation from the small chamber.
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