Driving innovation in primary healthcare though co-creation with stakeholders in Switzerland

Abstract Issue/problem Primary healthcare systems worldwide face challenges such as socio-demographic shifts, increasing chronic diseases, rising costs, and workforce shortages, demanding innovative solutions for the future of primary care. Description of the problem Addressing the complex challenges of creating a resilient primary healthcare model involves considering interdependent factors such as health policies, funding, workforce training, technology, and evolving diseases, alongside diverse stakeholder interests. To tackle this, the ‘Health2040: Co-creation of a Future Outpatient Primary Healthcare Model in Switzerland’ project was launched in 2023 to develop a forward-looking model by integrating insights from various stakeholders. Results The project involved 40 stakeholders, including patients, researchers, healthcare professionals, policy-makers, and insurers, in two full-day workshops aimed at co-creating a vision and actionable framework for Switzerland’s future primary care. The first workshop focused on developing and visualizing potential models, while the second targeted the transition to these new models and the creation of an implementation plan. These sessions were underpinned by a comprehensive literature review on emerging primary care models, providing a scientific foundation for the discussions. Lessons Successful co-creation requires significant preparatory efforts and innovative creativity techniques, such as Future Newspapers, brainstorming, games, and user personas. Engaging stakeholders throughout various stages of the project helped to enhance relevance. Feedback from a steering group on the workshop’s concept, methodologies, and evidence synthesis was instrumental. Healthcare practitioners also contributed their insights on patient personas, ensuring the models developed were pertinent to actual healthcare practices. Stakeholder engagement process was essential for fostering innovative ideas and ensuring stakeholder buy-in for the developed solutions. Key messages • Co-creation with stakeholders is a promising way to develop innovative solutions for health systems. • Integrating stakeholder input is crucial at all the project stages, from preparation to evaluation.