From 1987 to 2003, Switzerland benefitted from a wide ongoing evaluation system of HIV/AIDS, including evaluation of specific interventions, programme monitoring, and behavioural surveillance in several populations. From 2004 onwards a second generation surveillance system was put in place meeting the requirements of the situation in Switzerland, that is a concentrated type of mature epidemic. This took the form of a behavioural surveillance system and the monitoring of certain specific interventions.
The second generation system combines biological surveillance of HIV/AIDS and certain sexually transmitted infections (STI) with behavioural surveillance conducted through various repeated surveys among relevant populations. This system has the following functions:
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Provide sound knowledge of the epidemic, which means following the evolution of the situation of the new HIV and STI cases, not only at national level, but also at regional and even local level, and anticipating future evolution through behavioural surveillance data. To fulfil this function the system should be stable and flexible.
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Through the delivery of regularly collected relevant data, serving to inform, define and evaluate the HIV/STI policy in Switzerland (the National Programme for HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections 2011–2017 / NPHS), especially the investment choices within the prevention field (level and distribution of investments, coverage of various populations (general population and/or particular populations), or between different fields (prevention, treatment, other domains such as harm reduction, solidarity/discrimination, etc.).
