The FOITT to develop COVID certificate by end of June

Bern, 07.05.2021 - The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has decided that the COVID certificate will be developed using the solution proposed by the Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication (FOITT). The system for issuing a forgery-proof COVID certificate on request to anyone who has been vaccinated, has recovered from or has recently tested negative for coronavirus will be available by the end of June 2021.

The FOITT’s solution is compatible with the EU’s Digital Green Certificate, secure, uses the simplest possible technology, and is developed using open source code. This was a decisive factor in the selection.

This decision means responsibility for the technical implementation of the certificate will move from the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) to the Federal Department of Finance (FDF). The FOPH is responsible for the content specifications, while the FOITT is in charge of technical implementation.

Involvement of the medical profession, pharmacists and other stakeholders

The Swiss Medical Association (FMH) and PharmaSuisse are involved in the project. Doctor’s surgeries and pharmacies that already work with e.g. a HIN solution to securely identify and administer patient data should be able to continue to do so via an interface without having to change systems. Other stakeholders are involved in implementation of the COVID certificate, including certificate issuers, verifying bodies and data protection and security experts who are testing the solution.

User friendly, secure and EU compatible

The certificate must be user friendly, simple to issue both on smartphones and on paper, and quick to check. It must be designed so that data protection and security requirements are met and that personal data are not stored centrally. It will also be compatible with the EU’s Digital Green Certificate. Switzerland is also involved in the WHO project to develop an internationally-recognised certificate (Smart Vaccination Certificate).
In recent weeks, the FOPH has scrutinised two technical implementation solutions for the COVID certificate. A total of 52 proposals were submitted in the initial phase.

The Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication is currently finalising the solution and will provide detailed information at an upcoming technical press briefing.


Address for enquiries

Federal Office of Public Health, Communication, media@bag.admin.ch


Publisher

Federal Office of Public Health
http://www.bag.admin.ch

General Secretariat FDHA
http://www.edi.admin.ch

Secretariat-General FDF
http://www.efd.admin.ch

https://www.admin.ch/content/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-83428.html