Rheumatism Switzerland

What Rheumatism Switzerland does

Rheumaliga Schweiz (Rheumatism Switzerland) is a Swiss nonprofit charitable foundation headquartered at Josefstrasse 92, 8005 Zürich, that serves as the national umbrella organization for people affected by rheumatic conditions in Switzerland. The organization operates within a market of approximately 2 million Swiss residents affected by rheumatic disease, including approximately 85,000 individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, and coordinates a federated structure of 17 cantonal and regional leagues. Its service portfolio spans assistive devices, patient consulting, fall prevention programs, courses, publications, the RheumaBuddy mobile application, and a podcast — delivered through a website, e-commerce shop, social media channels, and events.

The organization's business model is diversified across donations, e-commerce sales of assistive devices and educational materials, sponsorships, and course fees, with no single revenue stream disclosed as dominant. It maintains a partnership with the EMR (ErfahrungsMedizinisches Register) through which approximately 25,000 therapists are registered, giving the organization indirect distribution into the Swiss therapist ecosystem. Leadership is anchored by Managing Director Annette Stolz, who was appointed relatively recently.

Operationally, Rheumaliga combines traditional nonprofit health advocacy (publications, courses, in-person consulting) with newer digital channels (the RheumaBuddy app, podcast, e-commerce). The data does not disclose headcount, annual financial figures, or AI/ML capabilities. Its strategic posture reflects a steady-state nonprofit organization extending incremental digital reach rather than pursuing rapid commercial scaling.

Name

Rheumatism Switzerland

Legal name

Rheumaliga Schweiz

Website

https://rheumaliga.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rheumaliga Schweiz is a Zurich-based Swiss nonprofit charitable foundation serving approximately 2 million Swiss residents affected by rheumatic conditions through assistive devices, consulting, courses, publications, the RheumaBuddy app, and a podcast, funded by donations, e-commerce, and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chronic Disease Patient Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Global Health Advocacy, Policy & Rights Organizations (HLAJAKAO), International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

Keywords

• Rheumatic disease support
• Assistive medical devices
• Patient education resources
• Movement therapy courses
• Fall prevention services

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue stream from individual donations, bequests (Erbschaft und Legat), memorial donations (Trauerspende), and event-based donations (Anlass-Spende). Accepts donations through online portal (Spendenwelt) and bank transfers.
2. Product Sales (Hilfsmittel): E-commerce sales of assistive devices and aids for people with rheumatic conditions. Products include ergonomic kitchen tools, dressing aids, bathroom safety equipment, and mobility aids. Sold through own online shop (rheumaliga-shop.ch) and regional sales points.
3. Sponsorships and Foundations: Funding from corporate sponsors and charitable foundations to support organizational activities, publications, and patient programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rheumaliga Schweiz is the Swiss national rheumatism organization that provides support services, educational resources, and assistive devices for the roughly 2 million people in Switzerland affected by rheumatic diseases. It operates an e-commerce shop for ergonomic aids (Hilfsmittel), runs movement courses, delivers fall prevention home visits, publishes the forumR magazine and RheumaNews newsletter, hosts the 'Rheuma persönlich' podcast, and offers digital tools such as the RheumaBuddy app and Calcium Calculator. The organization is funded primarily through donations, bequests, sponsorships, and product sales, with services offered free of charge across German, French, and Italian-speaking regions of Switzerland.

Product overview

Rheumaliga Schweiz operates as Switzerland's national rheumatism organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of support services, educational resources, and assistive devices for people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions. The core offerings include: Hilfsmittel (ergonomic aids and assistive devices) available through their online shop and regional outlets; digital tools such as the RheumaBuddy app for symptom tracking, Calcium Calculator, and Doctor/Therapist search directories; publications including the forumR magazine and RheumaNews newsletter; the 'Rheuma persönlich' podcast; movement courses and public events; fall prevention home visits; and the SOS-Fonds financial support program. Services are delivered through a national office in Zurich with regional cantonal leagues and are available in German, French, and Italian.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rheumafit: A free online platform with exercise videos for rheumatic diseases.
• RheumaBuddy
• SOS-Fonds
• Rheuma persönlich (Podcast)

Products and services

• Hilfsmittel (Assistive Devices and Everyday Aids) A range of ergonomic aids and assistive devices (Hilfsmittel) for people with rheumatic conditions to maintain independence in daily activities. Includes jar and bottle openers, grip aids, bathroom safety equipment, reaching tools, dressing aids, kitchen utensils, and walking/balance supports. Sold through the organization's own e-commerce shop and regional sales points.
• Online Shop (rheumaliga-shop.ch) E-commerce platform operated by Rheumaliga Schweiz for purchasing ergonomic aids and assistive devices for rheumatic patients. Features product search, ordering, and customer support via phone and email ([email protected]).
• Doctor Search (Fachärzteliste) Online directory of rheumatology specialists across Swiss cantons, provided in partnership with the Swiss Society for Rheumatology (SGR), allowing patients to find and locate rheumatologists in their region.
• Therapist Search (Therapeutensuche EMR) Online search tool connecting users to the Erfahrungsmedizinisches Register (EMR), Switzerland's empirical medicine registry of approximately 25,000 complementary and alternative medicine therapists offering around 200 therapy methods, including acupuncture, osteopathy, and homeopathy.
• Movement Courses (Kurse) Exercise and movement courses offered regionally throughout Switzerland to help people with chronic rheumatic pain maintain joint mobility and enjoy social activity. Trial lessons are offered free of charge.
• Events and Activities (Veranstaltungen) Public events including an Action Week (Aktionswoche), Activity Days (Aktiv-Tage), and Family Days (Familientag) providing education and support for people with rheumatic conditions and their families.
• Fall Prevention (Sturzprävention) Home-visit consultation service for independently living seniors, assessing living situations and providing recommendations to reduce fall risks. A ZHAW study showed a single home visit reduces fall rates by 24%.
• SOS-Fonds Financial Support Financial support fund providing assistance to people with rheumatic diseases who face financial hardship related to their condition.
• RheumaBuddy App Digital diary app for people with rheumatoid arthritis or juvenile idiopathic arthritis to track symptoms, pain levels, mood, fatigue, and stiffness. Includes a body map for joint pain location, consultation preparation features, and a community forum. Available in German, English, French, and Italian on App Store and Google Play.
• Calcium Calculator (Calciumrechner) Online tool providing personalized calcium intake evaluation, helping users assess their dietary calcium consumption.
• forumR Magazine

Quantifiable outcome

• 24% reduction in fall rate from single home visit by Rheumaliga

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Rheumatologie (SGR)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe Swiss Society for Rheumatology provides the physician referral list data available through Rheumaliga's website. This partnership enables patients to find rheumatology specialists in their region.
• Erfahrungsmedizinisches Register (EMR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRheumaliga partners with EMR (Eskamed AG) to provide access to ~25,000 therapists offering around 200 different therapy forms including acupuncture, anthroposophical medicine, Ayurveda, craniosacral therapy, classical homeopathy, osteopathy, and other complementary medicine methods. The EMR-Quality Label ensures standardized therapist certification.
• RheumafitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal online platform featuring exercise videos for rheumatic conditions, referenced as an external offering linked to Rheumaliga's services.
• Cantonal and Regional Rheumaliga OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of cantonal and regional leagues including Basel, Bern/Oberwallis, Freiburg, Geneva, Glarus, Jura, Luzern/Obwalden/Nidwalden, Neuenburg, St. Gallen/Graubünden/Appenzell/Liechtenstein, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Ticino, Thurgau, Uri/Schwyz, Vaud, Wallis, and Zürich/Zug/Aargau. These branches provide localized services, sales of assistive devices, and community support.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Versus Arthritis: National UK charity dedicated to arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions. Most directly comparable peer — operates a federation of regional branches, funds research, delivers patient services, and sells mobility aids across the UK.
• Arthritis Foundation: Largest US national arthritis nonprofit, offering patient education, community programs, advocacy, fundraising events, and partnerships with rheumatology professionals. Closest large-scale parallel to Rheumaliga Schweiz's mission and operating model.
• Schweizerische Multiple Sklerose Gesellschaft: Swiss MS society, structured as a federation across cantons. Closely mirrors Rheumaliga's chronic-disease, cantonal-federation, donation-funded model in the same Swiss regulatory and fundraising environment.
• Krebsliga Schweiz: Swiss national cancer nonprofit organized as a federation of cantonal leagues. Same Swiss nonprofit/charitable foundation structure, same cantonal federation model, and directly comparable fundraising and patient-service operating approach.

Regional players

• Ligue Française contre le Rhumatisme: French national rheumatism advocacy organization. Same disease-specific patient-advocacy mission in a neighboring geography; serves as a cross-border reference point on programming and policy.
• Deutsche Rheuma-Liga: Germany's national rheumatism league, organized as a federation of regional associations. Operates the same disease-specific nonprofit model in a neighboring DACH market and shares language and structural overlap.

Emerging players

• DocFinder: Swiss doctor search and appointment platform. Comparable because it offers an alternative pathway to rheumatologist discovery that may compete with Rheumaliga's SGR-powered physician directory.
• MyTherapy: Patient-facing medication and symptom-tracking app widely used by chronic-disease patients. Comparable as a digital diary/symptom-tracking offering that overlaps with the RheumaBuddy app and could absorb Rheumaliga's digital engagement layer.
• Wellcare Versand: Major European e-commerce retailer of assistive devices, mobility aids, and daily-living products. Comparable as the scaled alternative to Rheumaliga's Hilfsmittel shop, competing for the same end customers.

Broad incumbents

• Schweizerisches Rotes Kreuz: Switzerland's largest humanitarian and health-focused nonprofit. Comparable as a Swiss charitable foundation with cantonal sections, donation revenue model, and broad health-adjacent programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/rheumaligaschweiz
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RheumaligaSchweiz
• Facebookfacebook.com/rheumaligaschweiz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rheumaliga-schweiz
• Instagraminstagram.com/rheumaliga_schweiz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rheumatism Switzerland