The government wants to restrict direct access for patients to specialist doctors as part of plans to slow down a rise in costs for the Swiss health system.
Interior Minister Alain Berset, whose portfolio includes health matters, said the aim of a package of measures was to save about CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion), while boosting the quality and efficiency of health services.
The proposed measures, to be set by the national government and the 26 cantons annually, include a target for expenditures to be spent on medical services, hospital stays and drugs.
The plan foresees that the services of a specialist doctor will only be covered by compulsory health insurance if patients first consult a general practitioner, a telemedicine centre“ or a so-called health maintenance organisation (HMO) which act as gatekeepers.
Berset argued that most patients already follow this practice but that the government wanted to encourage more patients to join.
However, he downplayed concerns about spending caps, saying there was no intention to ration medical services.
Increased transparency, higher cost awareness is to be achieved through closer cooperation between the different players in the health sector, according to Berset.
The proposals, which also include an improved legal basis for winning access to innovative but costly medication, are now sent to cantons, political parties, institutions and organisations for consultation before the government presents its bill to parliament.
Cost saving measures
The package presented on Wednesday comes on the back of a first set of measures, launched two years ago, targeting generic drugs and outpatient services. The government said at the time it hoped to reduce costs by about CHF1 billion.
Discussions on the reform are ongoing in parliament.
In 2012, voters threw out a proposal to introduce a Managed Care system, creating clusters of doctors, therapists, hospitals and pharmacies.
Overall health costs in Switzerland are about CHF82 billion annually, including CHF33 billion covered by the mandatory health insurance plans, according to latest data from 2018 by the Federal Statistics Office.
Switzerland’s drug approval process lags behind Europe
This content was published on
According to a recent study, medicines are approved on average 249 days later in Switzerland than by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Non-believers significantly underrepresented in Swiss parliament
This content was published on
While non-believers make up the largest group in the Swiss population at around 34%, they rank only third in Parliament with just 23%.
Swiss NGO offices in Ukraine hit by Russian strike
This content was published on
On Wednesday morning, the offices of the Swiss Foundation for Demining (FSD) were struck by a Russian missile in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine.
This content was published on
A group of climate protesters blocked the road to Zurich Airport on Wednesday morning. The police quickly cleared the demonstration.
Surge in PhDs in Switzerland driven by international students
This content was published on
The number of PhD students in French-speaking Switzerland has doubled over the past 30 years, largely due to the influx of international students.
Switzerland to host US-mediated peace talks on Sudan
This content was published on
The United States announced that Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces are set to hold peace talks in Switzerland in mid-August.
Stress research: voting campaigns can trigger stress among minorities
This content was published on
Researchers at the University of Zurich showed in a study that they released more stress hormones during the referendum campaign.
Swiss justice minister advocates for greater sovereignty through bilateral agreements
This content was published on
In a networked world, sovereignty can be enhanced by regulating relations with important partners, Jans wrote in a NZZ commentary on Tuesday.
No heat records in sight (yet) despite the ‘dog days’
This content was published on
The dog days—traditionally the hottest days of the year—began on Tuesday. However, the weather service Meteonews predicts that Switzerland is unlikely to see new temperature records in the near future.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Parliament wants patients to pay more for health costs
This content was published on
Patients could face higher costs for medical products and services following parliament's decision to raise the minimum health insurance deductibles.
New health insurance premiums are ‘good news’ for most
This content was published on
While many in Switzerland can look forward to lower health insurance premiums next year, some will be paying nearly 3% more.
This content was published on
Interior Minister Alain Berset says he is willing to consider the introduction of a global budget for Switzerland’s healthcare system as part of efforts to reduce rising health costs.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.