A Blueprint for Global Health Management

The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), held in Basel, Switzerland, from 10 May to 17 May, 2025, drew approximately 50,000 fans from 80 countries.

As the world’s largest music competition, the event drew significant international attention and required meticulous public health planning.

In an interview with El Medico Interactivo, the Public Health Department of Basel-City explained how the medical services were coordinated during the event.

The Eurovision team provided clear guidance to the participants and visitors on how to access medical support, including directions for emergency services, local pharmacies, and healthcare facilities.

According to the Health Department, emergency medical teams were deployed across all ESC venues, including the Main Venue, Arena Plus, Eurovision Villa, EuroClub and Café, and Eurovision Square. These teams consisted of paramedics and trained healthcare professionals to ensure that immediate medical aid was available when needed.

Operational Framework

“The concept is straightforward: Emergency service teams serve as the first point of contact. They provide on-site care whenever feasible and help visitors with basic health concerns, advising on how to handle medical emergencies that may require a hospital visit,” officials from the Basel Health Department explained.

Moreover, “in the operational organisation of the ESC, paramedic services and representatives from the Public Health Department of Basel-City collaborated to ensure necessary medical care.”

“The teams use checklists to figure out the most suitable hospital for each case. Overall, we have compiled health tips for international visitors on how best to address health issues in Basel,” they added.

Health Tips for Visitors

These health tips include information on where and when to seek medical care and recommendations on what to eat and drink to avoid poisoning, alcohol and drug use, and safe sex.

Organisers also warned about the dangers of fake news, particularly concerning health issues during the festival. “It is reassuring that, so far, no medical problems as a result of excessive alcohol or party drug consumption have been encountered.”

A key concern in large events is how the arrival of a large number of visitors may affect local healthcare organisations. Swiss attendees bought the greatest number of tickets, marking that the event had returned to their country for the first time since 1989. Germany ranked second in ticket sales, while fans from the United Kingdom, France, and Spain ranked in the top five. Spain was the third European country most interested in travelling to the host city.

In this context, the Health Department emphasised that “the added burden on the healthcare system caused by ESC visitors has been relatively low so far. We expected and were prepared for a larger burden.”

Common Medical Assists

Regarding the typical work carried out by these specialised medical teams, officials in Basel noted, “one aspect is providing health services to international guests for health issues they would usually consult their family physicians in their home country, such as minor injuries, prescriptions for chronic illnesses.”

In this manner, “the Department of Public Health maintains a daily briefing with major acute care hospitals and the operation managers of security organisations such as police, emergency services, and medical emergency call centres) to ensure information flow and streamline procedures.”

Furthermore, “the focus is on preparing and strengthening the healthcare system, ensuring awareness and ability to manage an increase in patients with (severe) injuries during the event, similar to what might occur in the case of an accident. For this reason, we are part of a “crisis organisation” that will respond if a serious incident.”

However, reports leading up to the grand finale indicate that everything went ahead smoothly. “Fortunately, the event has been calm and only minor cases have been addressed. The most common issues involved injuries requiring medical attention, such as cuts, joint sprains, or pain relief medications for various conditions.”

This story was translated from El Medico Interactivo.