Non-communicable diseases weigh heavily on healthcare costs
Treating muscle and skeletal disorders costs CHF8.7 billion a year in Switzerland
Keystone
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 80% of healthcare costs in Switzerland, with cardiovascular diseases being the most expensive, according to the first study to look at direct treatment costs of NCDs.
Cardiovascular diseases are most costly, accounting for 15.6% (CHF10 billion) of total healthcare costs. Muscle and skeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis, rheumatism and back pain follow at 13.4% (CHF8.7 billion).
Third, at 10.6% (CHF6.9 billion), is the treatment of mental illnesses such as depression.
Cancer, which is ranked the seventh-most expensive NCD at 6% (CHF3.9 billion), came in with lower than expected costs, said the authors.
Though the second leading cause of death in the country, it’s often fatal nature means the duration of treatment is relatively short, they said. New and expensive drugs can increase the life expectancy of many patients, but they make the cancer more of a chronic disease.
Similarly, only 1.7% (CHF1.1 billion) of treatment costs in Switzerland are for dementia, even though the disease is often cited as the reason for rising health costs. The authors explain that fewer people have dementia than generally thought, while the treatment of many patients is relatively cheap, as in some cases relatives take on the care and support.
The figures were compiled by an interdisciplinary research team that based its research on a report commissioned by the Federal Office of Public Health. This latter report was drafted in 2014 by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, the University of Zurich, the Polynomics research institute and Helsana health insurance.
More
More
Price watchdog targets rising health costs
This content was published on
The growing expense related to healthcare in Switzerland is a major concern for the price watchdog.
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
New European space tech centre in Switzerland launches its first project
This content was published on
The European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI), launched in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), is to be located in the immediate vicinity of the PSI in northern Switzerland.
Swiss Federal Railways launches campaign for safety on public transport
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Railways is launching a campaign for greater respect and safety on public transport, with posters to go up in stations and on trains starting next week.
Swiss scientists to use AI for improved weather and climate forecasts
This content was published on
MeteoSwiss and the Swiss Data Science Center have signed a four-year agreement to make greater use of AI in meteorology and climatology going forward.
This content was published on
Prices of owner-occupied homes rose in the third quarter of 2024 by 0.5%, with inflation affecting both apartments and single-family houses, says the Federal Statistical Office.
This content was published on
The honey harvest is projected to be lower than usual this year, as Swiss beekeepers report harvesting an average of just 16kg of honey per bee colony.
More young refugees in Switzerland following vocational training
This content was published on
More than half of young refugees and temporarily admitted persons between the ages of 16 and 25 are now in training. This is significantly more than five years ago.
One in five Swiss children suffers psychological abuse at home
This content was published on
In Switzerland, one in five children suffers psychological violence, and one in three has witnessed psychological violence between parents, says the association Kinderschutz Schweiz.
Swiss government minister breaks silence over Trump remarks controversy
This content was published on
Transport Minister Albert Rösti explained himself in a television interview on Sunday evening, after being called out for expressing support for Donald Trump.
Swiss Covid expert calls for caution on vaccination recommendations
This content was published on
The head of the vaccination commission would be “even more cautious today” when it comes to Covid-19 vaccination recommendations.
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
Court rules insurance must pay for childbirth
This content was published on
The costs of childbirth or a treatment against AIDS must be reimbursed even if patients are in arrears with their health insurance payments.
This content was published on
Premiums for people under 18 will likely rise by 5%, and residents of western Switzerland are expected to be hit especially hard. For example, the rate is expected to go up by 6.4% in canton Vaud, and 5.4% in canton Geneva. At the other end of the spectrum, health insurance for people in canton Schwyz in…
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.