Health is unaffordable (Swiss Press Text 2012, by Laure Gabus) - Swiss Press Award

Tribune de Genève

Laure Gabus

This article is a snapshot of the ambiguous relationship between Genevans, their wallets, and their health. A survey by the HUG Population Epidemiology Unit was published last February. It showed that 14.5% of Geneva residents surveyed admitted to forgoing medical care for financial reasons; 74% admitted to forgoing going to the dentist. This conclusion really struck a chord with me. In discussion with Dr. Idris Guessous, it was agreed that I would collect testimonies from people who went to the Health Bus where the study was conducted. Patients coming for a checkup at the Health Bus are randomly selected from the Geneva population. This approach allowed me to meet residents with very different profiles. I spent several mornings there and returned to the editorial office with the life stories transcribed in the article. And conclusions that were as fascinating as they were worrying.