In financial difficulties, the anti-poison info center says it needs 1.1 million francs by the end of August and medium-term financing. A petition with 100,000 signatures was deposited to save the center from a bankruptcy.
What to do when a child swallowed a household product? And after eating a plant picked in the forest? Compose the 145free number of the anti -poison center, is useful.
Except that for several years, Tox Info has seen red. “A disappearance of this institution or even an interruption of several weeks of its activity would have fatal consequences,” warns tox info on Thursday. And to mention in particular parents who need advice for their young children or health professionals.
Appeal to the Federal Council
The petition, launched at the beginning of the month, again presss the federal advisor in charge of health Elisabeth Baume-Schneider to act. The center asks him to review the financing methods, short and medium term.
Tox Info assumes a federal mandate anchored in the law in the field of prevention, advice and documentation in terms of intoxication. But it is only funded until 10% by the Confederation.
>> Read also: Meeting with serious financial difficulties, Tox Info calls Confederation to help
The Confederation refuses to increase its support
To explain this situation, the Center has evokes a chronic underfunding for several years. It works in part with several private foundations, such as the chemical industry or insurance.
However, some of these foundations have reduced or even removed their funding. They believe that it is a public service and that the Confederation and the Cantons are more responsible.
For its part, the Federal Office of Public Health indicates that it has already increased its contribution, going from 540,000 francs in 2022 to 670,000 this year. A new short-term increase is not possible, he says.
>> See the subject of 7:30 p.m. on the difficulties of Tox Info:
Gabriela Cabré/Ostolu
