“Day of the Sick” 2024 – Diabetes Centre Berne host of President Amherd’s speech

4 · Mar · 2024 | Press Release

Bern, 4 March 2024 – Yesterday was the 85th anniversary of Switzerland’s oldest Disease Awareness Day, the “Day of the Sick”. The aim is to raise public awareness of health and disease issues. The President of the Swiss Confederation gives a speech at this event, which this year was held at the Diabetes Centre Berne (DCB).

“Strengthening confidence” is the motto of this year’s “Day of the Sick”. In connection with this and as a strong player in innovation and research in the field of diabetes technology, the Diabetes Center Berne had the honour of hosting this year’s speech by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Viola Amherd. Supplemented by two statements from the DCB, from the perspective of people with diabetes, the President addressed the influence of collaboration and innovative technologies as well as the situation of carers and patients.

“I had to prick my finger around 60,000 times to measure my blood sugar level. You can still see the traces of this on my fingertips today. Now I have a sensor on my arm that continuously measures my blood glucose level. This technological innovation has not only given me back valuable time, but also a lot of quality of life,” summarises Maren Schinz, Innovation Manager at the DCB, who has type I diabetes.

The CEO of the DCB, Derek Brandt, adds: “Here at the Diabetes Centre Berne, we exchange ideas and develop new technologies. Our aim is to use new approaches to give people with diabetes back their freedom so that other areas of their lives can be given more space again.”

Watch the recording now:

Tag der Kranken – Ansprache der Bundespräsidentin Viola Amherd

About DCB
The Diabetes Center Berne (DCB) is a private, independent Swiss foundation established in 2017 with the aim of making life with diabetes easier. DCB supports ideas and projects in the field of diabetes technology worldwide by providing expertise, access to clinical research facilities and its own laboratories as well as financial resources. The aim is to work in partnership to bring them a big step closer to market entry. The work of the DCB is not profit-orientated – the goal is new findings and innovations in diabetes management as well as a lively community.

About “Day of the Sick”
The “Day of the Sick” is a non-profit organisation that was founded in 1939. Its members include patient organisations as well as health leagues, industry and professional associations, the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Health Directors (GDK) and other associations and federations active in the healthcare sector.
Once a year, the “Day of the Sick” sensitises the population to a special topic in the area of health and illness. It aims to help promote relationships between the sick and the healthy, create understanding for the needs of the sick and remind people of the duties of the healthy towards the sick. It is also committed to recognising the activities of all those who work professionally and privately on behalf of patients and the sick.

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