SWISS ASSOCIATION FOR THE MEDICAL MANAGEMENT IN SUBSTANCE USERS (SAMMSU)
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Aim and Objectives
The objectives of the association are to establish and maintain a network as a common platform for all experts and organizations involved in the health care for substance users in Switzerland. The aim of this network will be to improve the interdisciplinary medical care in substance users, including preventive aspects.

The objectives of the association are without any profit purpose.

SAMMSU aims at improving the medical management (prevention, diagnosis and care) of PWUD in all participating centres in Switzerland. Optimisation of patient care is achieved by:
  • implementing and optimising standards of care in all participating centres
  • evaluating the epidemiology of illicit substance use and associated infectious and non-infectious conditions
  • establishing and evaluating standards for the prevention of infectious diseases
  • improving the diagnosis of chronic infectious and non-infectious diseases associated with illicit and recreational substance use
  • improving the uptake of treatment of infectious and non-infectious diseases 
  • implementing a communication system for the regular exchange of management issues among the participating centres
  • establishing a benchmark system for the comparison of key parameters of medical management among the participating centres, allowing the identification of specific areas of improvement


Current Committee Members (elected on February 15th 2022)
  • Andrea Bregenzer (treasurer), Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen and Cantonal Hospital Aarau
  • Philip Bruggmann (vice-president), Arud Centres for Addiction Medicine, Zurich
  • Erika Castro (president), Private practice - Clinique Virtuelle Hépatite, Lausanne
  • Katharina Hensel-Koch, Medizinisch-soziale Hilfsstelle 1, St. Gallen
  • Alberto Moriggia, Epatocentro Ticino SA, Lugano, Switzerland; Ingrado Centro per Le Dipendenze, Lugano
  • Claude Scheidegger, Basel
  • Pascale Della Santa, Fondation Phénix, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Christine Turnheer Zürcher, Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern
Founder members
  • Philip Bruggmann, Arud, Zürich
  • Andreas Cerny, Clinica Moncucco, Lugano → represented by Benedetta Terziroli
  • Roland Dürig, Infektiologie, Inselspital Bern
  • Claude Scheidegger, Basel
  • André Seidenberg, Allgemein-Praxis, Zürich
  • Christine Thurnheer, Infektiologie, Inselspital Bern
  • Pietro Vernazza, Infektiologie, Kantonsspital St. Gallen
  • Andrea Witteck, Infektiologie, Kantonsspital Aarau

General Assembly
once a year

Committee Meeting
quarterly
Swiss Association for the Medical Management in Substance Users (SAMMSU)