The Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Zurich (ISPMZ) is for the first time presenting representative data concerning health literacy in the three linguistic regions of Switzerland (German-speaking Switzerland, French-speaking Switzerland and the Canton of Ticino). In all three regions, citizens wish to take an active part. In Ticino, decisions relating to health seem more complex: the information available is harder to decipher. On the other hand, the people of the Canton of Ticino are, according to the survey, the most cost-aware. In all three linguistic regions, people are dissatisfied with doctor/patient communication. Dissatisfaction with the range of treatment options offered by doctors is patently obvious. >>