Scientific findings are decisive in practice. In order to treat their patients based on the most recent data available – in the sense of evidence-based medicine, active physicians should have access to quality information. The Cochrane Library is one of these resources for which the SAMS co-finances the national license.
The Cochrane Library is an international database specializing in medical information that is based on sound scientific evidence. Thanks to the national provision, its ressources have been made accessible since 2016 free of charge to health professionals, but also to anyone in Switzerland who wishes to obtain reliable information in order to make informed decisions about their health.
The SAMS thanks the Consortium of Swiss University Libraries and the Commission for Biomedical Libraries (page in French or in German), whose commitment made the renewal of the national license possible. A large consortium of university libraries and hospitals, which the SAMS has also joined, has secured funding for a period of three years (2026–2028).
Relevant links
Access to the Cochrane Library (for health professionals)
Access to Cochrane «Our evidence» (for the public)
Access to the Cochrane Consumer Network (for the public)
Cochrane Crowd: Become a Cochrane citizen scientist
Through its Cochrane Crowd project, Cochrane encourages anyone interested in science and research to contribute to its collection of systematic reviews. Citizen scientists are invited to identify studies that may be relevant for future Cochrane systematic reviews, learning to distinguish and identify randomised controlled trials from other types of studies. No expertise is required to participate in Cochrane Crowd, other than curiosity and a solid understanding of English. Join the community of more than 20 000 people around the world who have been tempted by the experience.
The promotion of citizen science is one of the objectives of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences for the period 2025 to 2028.