Ms Stolz, you have described rheumatism as the “elephant in the room” in the Swiss healthcare system. Why is that?

Although rheumatism affects around 2.8 million Swiss people, it has a surprisingly low profile. This is partly because rheumatism is not a single condition, but a group of diseases with around 200 possible diagnoses. There are inflammatory and non-inflammatory forms, and huge differences in terms of disease progression and who is affected. This complexity is what makes raising awareness so difficult, but at the same time so important.

Where do you see the biggest challenges in rheumatism care?

In my view, there are three key gaps in care. Firstly, health policy often fails to prioritise musculoskeletal diseases. Secondly, care is highly fragmented: cooperation between GP practices, specialists and other involved parties can be suboptimal. Thirdly, many sufferers lack the knowledge and support required to actively manage their condition.

What does this fragmentation mean in practice?

Osteoporosis is a good example. If someone suffers a bone fracture without a discernible cause, the fracture is treated, but in many cases there is no further investigation or consistent treatment of the underlying osteoporosis. The fracture should be a warning sign, however. Breaks like these should be a warning sign for closer investigation.

You talk about gaps in care. How is the Rheumaliga addressing these?

Our first question is always: what is the real problem? Where are the gaps in care? Only then do we start working on a solution. It is important to us that our activities are scientifically sound and make a genuine difference. If you have a robust basis in place, that also allows you to measure the impact.

How do you gauge whether a campaign is successful?

As part of our osteoporosis campaign, for example, we have developed a free online osteoporosis risk check. We see how many people engage with the campaign, how many of them complete the check, and what findings emerge from further surveys. In this way, we can assess whether we are reaching people and raising their health literacy.

A solid scientific foundatiom seems to be crucial for the Rheumaliga.

Absolutely. This was enshrined in our very first articles of association. It is important for information to be comprehensible and easily accessible, but it must also be factually sound. That’s why we evaluate our activities on a regular basis and check whether they are actually delivering the desired benefits.

Self-management is a key theme of your work. Why is that?

Because it offers an enormous amount of leverage. Although rheumatic diseases are frequently incurable, sufferers can significantly improve their quality of life. We know that many people with a chronic illness have difficulty actively managing their condition. However, those who understand how the disease works and what helps in everyday life are often much better-equipped to live with it.

How does the Rheumaliga support this?

We offer support in three areas: education, advice and exercise. Education refers to scientifically accurate information, for example via our website or our podcast “Rheuma persönlich”. Advice takes the form of free support from an interdisciplinary team of experts. And last but not least, exercise is a central component of our work. We offer courses throughout Switzerland geared specifically towards people with rheumatic diseases, and train the course leaders.

Exercising despite pain sounds contradictory to many people.

We encounter this a lot. Many people believe pain is a signal that you should go easy on yourself. With many rheumatic diseases, however, the opposite is often true. Completely stopping all exercise can often make the situation even worse.

There are many misconceptions about osteoporosis, too. Some people believe that brittle bones should be put under as little strain as possible. However, targeted load bearing can actually stimulate bone formation. Debunking myths like these is an important part of our work.

Why have you chosen osteoporosis as a focus topic?

Because there is a clearly discernible gap in care here. Osteoporosis is very common, but is often detected too late. At the same time, we know that there are huge gaps in knowledge when it comes to bone health. This fits very well with our role as an independent centre of expertise that informs, empowers and supports people.

Is osteoporosis representative of many other rheumatic diseases?

To a certain extent, yes. Osteoporosis spends a long time as a silent disease, often only becoming visible when a fracture occurs. This invisibility is common to many rheumatic diseases.

That is being knowledgeable about our musculoskeletal system is so important. In many cases we could take action at a very early stage, before serious consequences arise. And the most important takeaway is that it’s never too late to get active and positively influence your own quality of life.

What role should health insurers play in this area?

I see huge potential for closer cooperation. The Rheumaliga offers expertise and direct proximity to those affected. Health insurance companies are also in contact with insured persons and have a vested interest in people being able to manage their own health as effectively as possible. There are certainly still opportunities to work more closely together and link activities together in a more targeted way.

You seem to be very optimistic despite the challenges. Why is that?

I believe that systems can be gradually improved. If you understand how a problem arises, you can develop pragmatic solutions and start to change things.

It may also have something to do with my personal experiences. A member of my family has been living with a chronic disease since childhood. As a result, I saw from a young age just how much sufferers can accomplish on a daily basis. It still impresses me to this day.

You have been heading up Rheumaliga Schweiz for over two years now. What do you want to achieve?

My goal is to lead the Rheumaliga successfully into the future. We will be celebrating our 70th anniversary in 2028. I want to play my part in ensuring that the organisation continues to provide support to all those living or working with rheumatism over the coming decades.

Many people do not automatically associate innovation with the Rheumaliga, but it has in fact always been part of our DNA. I also firmly believe that people can take responsibility for their own health – provided they are given the knowledge, support and sometimes a little encouragement to do so. That is precisely what we are dedicated to doing.