A strong system at a turning point

The debate about the future of Swiss healthcare must extend beyond cost containment and shift towards value discussion. Current reimbursement models largely reward activity and service volume. As demand increasingly centres on chronic disease, multimorbidity and long-term care, reimbursement should place greater emphasis on outcomes, coordination and long-term value.

The discussion should therefore consider both how to  strengthen the value delivered to patients, the wider population and society and how to control costs. 

Switzerland excels at treating disease, but prevention is not yet firmly embedded in the healthcare system. Services are organised inconsistently, and access to preventive measures continues to vary by region.

Prevention should become integrated into healthcare delivery, for example by means of structured screening, as well as early detection and care . Individual initiative remains the driver, but people need practical and equitable opportunities to make healthier choices. Therefore, incentives for providers and producers need to shift towards keeping population healthy instead of treating sickness. 

As healthcare becomes more connected, health data is increasingly important to quality, coordination and innovation. Used effectively, it can enable more personalised care, strengthen prevention and support better planning.

Switzerland must now complement its strong tradition of privacy protection with trusted governance, interoperable infrastructure and clear standards in order to create opportunities for more effective and efficient care. Together, these foundations would enable health data to be used responsibly across the system to achieve better outcomes for the population.