Swiss cancer patients won’t get a promising new drug due to US policy; declining proficiency in language and mathematics observed in Swiss trainees; plus more news in our roundup this Thursday.
Due to President Trump’s price policy, Swiss cancer patients won’t get a promising new drug
The US president is pressuring the pharmaceutical industry not to sell medications in any industrialised country at a lower price than in the United States.
As a result of this policy, a promising drug for the treatment of pancreatic cancer is unlikely to be available to patients in Switzerland in the medium term.
Access to other medicines is likely to be restricted as well.
Declining proficiency in language and mathematics observed in Swiss apprentices
A survey carried out by Economiesuisse business association, the Swiss Trade Association, and the Swiss Employers’ Association, found that proficiency level in basic academic subjects has been steadily declining among young people who participate in Switzerland’s vocational training programmes.
Deficiencies in reading and writing are particularly significant: many companies notice that their trainees struggle to comprehend long texts and extract key information from them.
Grammar, spelling, and professional writing also present challenges. Math proficiency is declining as well, with difficulties in interpreting and contextualising results.
The associations are therefore calling on schools to strengthen the teaching of fundamental skills.
MP: ‘Girls should be allowed to swim topless’
In a written enquiry to the cantonal government, Zurich deputy Sandra Bielek from the Green Liberal Party brought up an example of inequality between male and female schoolchildren.
She said that while it is a common practice in school swimming lessons for boys to wear swim trunks and girls to wear swimsuits, “there are also girls who feel more comfortable in swim trunks. They only wear a swimsuit because they fear harassment and sexual assault.”
Therefore, she demanded that girls and boys be treated equally regarding clothing regulations – including during swimming lessons.
The government has not yet responded to her letter.
And speaking of unequal treatment:
Donkeys on a Zurich farm are no longer allowed to wear bells
The Zurich Administrative Court has partially upheld a noise complaint filed by a resident against cow and donkey bells on a farm in the Zurich municipality of Hinwil.
According to the ruling, cows on the farm in question may continue to wear small bells to prevent them from escaping, but donkeys may no longer do so.
Why? According to the court, the risk of donkeys fleeing was lower, and the argument of tradition – an important element in the cow lore – does not apply equally to donkeys.
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