Helvecura is the organisation of compulsory stockholders of essential medicinal products in Switzerland. As a cooperative, Helvecura has been performing tasks relating to compulsory stockpiling on behalf of the Swiss Confederation since 1951 and represents the interests of its members. Together with its members and the federal government, Helvecura is helping to ensure that essential medicinal products are available even during times of severe shortages.
Presentation – Introducing the Helvecura Cooperative
Helvecura’s contribution to its members
Helvecura performs tasks in connection with the compulsory stockpiling of essential medicinal products and supports its members in implementing the legal requirements. It ensures standardised and reliable processes in compulsory storage and ensures collaboration between the departments involved.
This mainly includes:
- performing the tasks assigned to it by the federal government in connection with compulsory stockpiling
- operation and support of the application
- ensuring the administrative and organisational processes of compulsory stockpiling
- participating in the definition and implementation of compensation under the Guarantee Fund
- ensuring the flow of information between authorities and members
- representing the interests of its members in the area of compulsory stockpiling, particularly vis-à-vis the federal government
The members of the cooperative are companies that place medicinal products subject to compulsory stockpiling on the Swiss market for the first time and have therefore concluded a compulsory stockpiling agreement with the federal government for essential medicinal products.
National Economic Supply is tasked with ensuring that the Swiss population is supplied with essential goods and services in times of crisis. The maintenance of compulsory stocks in the categories of food and feed, energy, therapeutic products and industry is of great importance as a precautionary measure for Switzerland, which is dependent on imports.
Compulsory stockpiling of medicinal products will be regularly reviewed and adjusted if necessary. In particular, changes in the supply situation, new health risks and experiences from previous shortages will be taken into account.
The following milestones highlight key expansions of the groups of medicinal products subject to compulsory stockpiling:
- 1951: Obligation to store antibiotics as key medicinal products to treat infectious diseases and founding of Helvecura Genossenschaft
- 2004: Stockpiling of antiviral drugs to cope with influenza pandemics
- 2013 and 2014: Extension of the storage obligation to include other anti-infectives used in human and veterinary medicine as well as certain strong painkillers
- 2016: Introduction of the storage obligation for selected human vaccines
- 2019: Extension of compulsory stockpiling to immunoglobulins
- 2020: Extension of compulsory stockpiling to additional medicinal products for human use
- 2024: Extension of compulsory stockpiling to selected oncology medicines
- 2026: Extension of the storage obligation to include other active ingredients for intensive care and anti-inflammatory care.
The measures taken help to ensure that the population is supplied even in times of severe shortages.
75 Years of the Helvecura Cooperative
Since its founding in 1951, Helvecura has been committed to ensuring the supply of essential medicinal products. What began with compulsory stockpiling of antibiotics has been continuously developed over the decades and adapted to new challenges.
The Helvecura Cooperative performs statutory tasks on behalf of the federal government and places great importance on responsible and forward-looking organisation.
Our value
Helvecura is synonymous with experience, reliability and clear collaboration. With a tried-and-tested, needs-based approach, it supports the implementation of compulsory stockpiling.
Helvecura focuses on timely, transparent and level-appropriate communication. In active dialogue with all stakeholders, it identifies needs and provides reliable information on the latest status of branch management.
Helvecura works with short decision-making paths and a high degree of flexibility. At the Bern location, Helvecura maintains close contact with authorities and partners, thus supporting efficient collaboration.
Sustainability is an important part of what we do.
We are committed to using resources responsibly and continuously improving our processes.
These include, but are not restricted to:
- Digital and lean work processes
- Measures for increasing energy efficiency in our offices
- A long-term stable and responsible organisation of compulsory stockpiling
The governing bodies of Helvecura
The governing bodies of Helvecura ensure strategic management, supervision and operational implementation.
The Annual General Meeting is the highest governing body of the Helvecura Cooperative.
The Annual General Meeting is held once a year and is conducted within six months of the end of the fiscal year.
Dr. Peter Andreas Huber
Chairman
Vice-Chairman
Dr. Urs B.P. Kientsch, GlaxoSmithKline AG
Members
Dr. Isabelle Dahinden, CSL Behring AG
Dr. Gerd Eisenmann, Insel Gruppe AG
Michèle Frei, Amino AG
Joachim Haag, ufamed AG
Dr. Sven Inäbnit, Mepha Pharma AG
Dr. Silvio Inderbitzin, Hänseler AG
Andreas Koch, Alloga AG
Dr. Sarah Charlier, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG
Dr. Daniel Sarbach, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals AG
Christine Spaenhauer-Horànyi, Mundipharma Medical Company
Pierre-André von Zeerleder, Armeeapotheke
Dr. Silvio Inderbitzin (Chairman), Hänseler AG
Dr. Christian Reichert, Armeeapotheke
Dr. Franz von Heeren
Do you have any questions about the organisation or collaboration?
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information.
Blaser Treuhand AG
The Helvecura office
The Helvecura office is managed by ATAG Wirtschaftsorganisationen AG in Bern. The office is responsible for the operational management of the cooperative. The tasks are en-trusted to it by the administration and the competent authorities.
Employees at the office
Michael Brügger
Managing Director
Michael Polla
Deputy Managing Director and Head of Compulsory Stock Administration/Checks
Vanessa Freiburghaus
Compulsory stock administration/checks
Peter Gasser
Finance/Accounting/Controlling
Carla Bertei
Finance/Accounting/Controlling
The office team is committed to addressing the concerns of the members of the Helvecura Coopera-tive on a daily basis and is available to them as competent points of contact.
Members of the cooperative
Helvecura brings together numerous companies that work together to ensure compulsory stockpiling of medicinal products in Switzerland. The following companies are members of the cooperative and part of the compulsory stockpiling system:
| Company | Address | ZIP / City |
|---|---|---|
| Accord Healthcare AG | Wuhrmattstrasse 23 | 4103 Bottmingen |
| Advanz Pharma Specialty Medicine Switzerland GmbH | Badenerstrasse 549 | 8048 Zürich |
| Aguettant Suisse SA | Route de Jussy 35 | 1226 Thônex |
| Alfasigma Schweiz AG | Luzernerstrasse 2 | 4800 Zofingen |
| ALK-Abelló AG | Richtistrasse 11 | 8304 Wallisellen |
| Alloga AG | Buchmattstrasse 10 | 3400 Burgdorf |
| Amino AG | Wiesenstrasse 21 | 5412 Gebenstorf |
| Amrein Futtermühle AG | Industriestrasse 18 | 6203 Sempach |
| Armeeapotheke | Worblentalstrasse 36 | 3063 Ittigen |
| Arovet AG | Riedstrasse 12 | 8953 Dietikon |
| Aspen Pharma Schweiz GmbH | Oberdorfstrasse 11 | 6340 Baar |
| Axapharm AG | Baarerstrasse 112 | 6300 Zug |
| Azelis Switzerland AG | Churerstrasse 77 | 8808 Pfäffikon SZ |
| Bailleul (Suisse) SA | Rue de Bourgogne 31 | 1203 Genève |
| Bavarian Nordic Berna GmbH | Oberriedstrasse 68 | 3174 Thörishaus |
| Bayer (Schweiz) AG | Uetlibergstrasse 132 | 8045 Zürich |
| B. Braun Medical AG | Seesatz 17 | 6204 Sempach |
| Biokema SA | Chemin de la Chatanérie 2 | 1023 Crissier |
| Biotest (Schweiz) AG | Schützenstrasse 17 | 5102 Rupperswil |
| Boehringer Ingelheim (Schweiz) GmbH | Hochbergerstrasse 60B | 4057 Basel |
| Bracco Suisse SA | Via Cantonale 35 | 6928 Manno |
| CD PHARMA (SUISSE) SA | Via Campione 47C | 6816 Bissone |
| Cheplapharm Arzneimittel GmbH | Huebweg 18/20 | 4102 Binnigen |
| CSL Behring AG | Wankdorfstrasse 10 | 3014 Bern |
| Curatis AG | Weierweg 7 | 4410 Liestal |
| Daiichi Sankyo (Schweiz) AG | Vulkanstrasse 106 | 8048 Zürich |
| Dechra Veterinary Products Suisse GmbH | Messeplatz 10 | 4058 Basel |
| Dermapharm AG | Bösch 104 | 6331 Hünenberg |
| Devatis AG | Riedstrasse 12 | 6330 Cham |
| Dolder AG | Immengasse 9 | 4001 Basel |
| Dr. Grossmann AG | Hardstrasse 25 | 4127 Birsfelden |
| Drossapharm AG | Birsweg 1 | 4144 Arlesheim |
| EffRx Pharmaceuticals SA | Wolleraustrasse 41B | 8807 Freienbach |
| Elanco Tiergesundheit AG | Mattenstrasse 24A | 4058 Basel |
| Eli Lilly (Suisse) SA | Chemin des Coquelicots 16 | 1214 Vernier |
| Eumedica Pharmaceuticals AG | Arnold Böcklin-Strasse 1 | 4051 Basel |
| Ewopharma AG | Vordergasse 43 | 8200 Schaffhausen |
| Exeltis Suisse SA | Chemin du Champ-des-Filles 36 A | 1228 Plan-les-Ouates |
| F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG | Grenzacherstrasse 124 | 4058 Basel |
| Fresenius Kabi (Schweiz) AG | Am Mattenhof 4 | 6010 Kriens |
| Galderma AG | Zählerweg 10 | 6300 Zug |
| Gilead Sciences Switzerland Sàrl | General-Guisan-Strasse 8 | 6300 Zug |
| GlaxoSmithKline AG | Neuhofstrasse 4 | 6340 Baar |
| Grosse Apotheke Dr. G. Bichsel AG | Bahnhofstrasse 5 | 3800 Interlaken |
| Grünenthal Pharma AG | Glarusstrasse 1 | 8853 Lachen SZ |
| Guerbet AG | Thurgauerstrasse 40 | 8050 Zürich |
| Hänseler AG | Industriestrasse 35 | 9100 Herisau |
| Helvepharm AG | Walzmühlestrasse 48 | 8500 Frauenfeld |
| Insel Gruppe AG | Freiburgstrasse 18 | 3010 Bern |
| Janssen-Cilag AG | Gubelstrasse 34 | 6300 Zug |
| Labatec Pharma SA | Rue du Cardinal-Journet 31 | 1217 Meyrin |
| Leman SKL SA | Route de Chancy 15 | 1213 Petit-Lancy |
| Leo Pharmaceutical Products Sarath Ltd | Eichwatt 5 | 8105 Zürich |
| Lipomed AG | Fabrikmattenweg 4 | 4144 Arlesheim |
| Mepha Pharma AG | Kirschgartenstrasse 14 | 4051 Basel |
| MSD Animal Health GmbH | Werftestrasse 4 | 6005 Luzern |
| MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme AG | Werftestrasse 4 | 6005 Luzern |
| Mundipharma Medical Company | St. Alban-Rheinweg 74 | 4052 Basel |
| Novartis Pharma AG | Lichtstrasse 35 | 4056 Basel |
| Novartis Pharma Schweiz AG | Suurstoffi 14 | 6343 Rotkreuz |
| Octapharma AG | Seidenstrasse 2 | 8853 Lachen SZ |
| OM Pharma Ltd. | Rue du Bois-du-Lan 22 | 1217 Meyrin |
| Orion Pharma AG | Untermüli 11 | 6300 Zug |
| OrPha Swiss GmbH | Untere Heslibachstrasse 41a | 8700 Küsnacht |
| PARI Swiss AG | Bösch 106 | 6331 Hünenberg |
| Pfizer AG | Schärenmoosstrasse 99 | 8052 Zürich |
| Provet AG | Gewerbestrasse 1 | 3421 Lyssach |
| RECORDATI AG | Uferstrasse 90 | 4057 Basel |
| Sandoz Pharmaceuticals AG | Suurstoffi 14 | 6343 Rotkreuz |
| sanofi-aventis (suisse) SA | Route de Montfleury 3 | 1214 Vernier |
| Selectchemie AG | Etzelstrasse 42 | 8038 Zürich |
| Servier (Suisse) SA | Rue des Asters 24 | 1202 Genève |
| Siegfried AG | Untere Brühlstrasse 4 | 4800 Zofingen |
| Sintetica SA | Via Penate 5 | 6850 Mendrisio |
| Spirig HealthCare AG | Industriestrasse 30 | 4622 Egerkingen |
| Stragen Pharma SA | Chemin du Pré-Fleuri 3 | 1228 Plan-les-Ouates |
| Streuli Pharma AG | Bahnhofstrasse 7 | 8730 Uznach |
| Streuli Tiergesundheit AG | Bahnhofstrasse 7 | 8730 Uznach |
| Takeda Pharma AG | Thurgauerstrasse 130 | 8152 Glattpark |
| Tillotts Pharma AG | Baslerstrasse 15 | 4310 Rheinfelden |
| UFA AG | Theaterstrasse 15a | 8401 Winterthur |
| Ufamed AG | Kornfeldstrasse 2 | 6210 Sursee |
| Vétoquinol GmbH | Freiburgstrasse 255 | 3018 Bern |
| Viatris Pharma GmbH | Turmstrasse 24 | 6312 Steinhausen |
| Vifor SA | Route de Moncor 10 | 1752 Villars-sur-Glâne |
| Virbac (Switzerland) AG | Europastrasse 15 | 8152 Glattbrugg |
| Vital AG | Industriestrasse 32 | 5036 Oberentfelden |
| Zambon Svizzera SA | Via Industria 13 | 6814 Cadempino |
| Zoetis Schweiz AG | Rue de la Jeunesse 2 | 2800 Delémont |