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Medicines never more expensive in Switzerland than in 2024, Helsana <\/p>\n
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The cost of medicines included in basic insurance increased year-on-year by 3.6% to a record CHF9.4 billion in 2024, according to health insurer Helsana.\n<\/p>\n
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December 2, 2025 – 12:09\n<\/p>\n
+Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox<\/a><\/p>\n One of the main reasons for this increase is the growing lack of transparency in pricing, says Helsana\u2019s latest drug report.<\/p>\n The report shows that price negotiations between the pharmaceutical industry and the federal government are often based on \u201cdeclared prices that are artificially inflated\u201d, Helsana stated. The health insurer therefore recommends that such prices should no longer be used as a basis for calculating costs.<\/p>\n + The high stakes fight over drug prices<\/a><\/p>\n Helsana is also calling for an annual cost audit, which, according to the insurer, would speed up price reductions. Currently, this audit, conducted by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), takes place every three years.<\/p>\n According to the Helsana report, in 2023 drug costs in Switzerland had already risen by 5.9% to CHF9.02 billion in the outpatient sector. And for the first time, they represented the largest expenditure item in basic insurance.<\/p>\n In the last ten years, the prices of new medicines have almost doubled. This is also true for products with no innovations, adds Helsana, according to which rapid and consistent implementation of the cost monitoring model adopted by parliament is indispensable.<\/p>\n \n More<\/p>\n More <\/p>\n The Swiss start-up upending how the world pays for medicine <\/p>\n This content was published on <\/p>\n Feb 1, 2023 <\/p>\n Basel start-up Lyfegen wants patients and insurers to stop overpaying for medicine. Its CEO believes the company has the technology to make it happen. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read more: The Swiss start-up upending how the world pays for medicine Reforms not yet effective enough<\/p>\n In order to reduce costs, the federal government wanted to promote generic drugs last year. Although the share of the latter has increased, the target of saving CHF 250 million has been \u2018largely missed\u2019, according to the Helsana report, which indicates only CHF 76 million saved. For the insurer, consistent implementation of the new legal provisions and additional incentives are needed.<\/p>\n \n More<\/p>\n More <\/p>\n Swiss Politics\n <\/p>\n Is there an answer to Switzerland\u2019s spiralling healthcare cost misery? <\/p>\n This content was published on <\/p>\n Sep 27, 2023 <\/p>\n Swiss residents must swallow a bitter pill of health insurance premiums rising by 8.7% next year. Is there a way out of this vicious circle? <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read more: Is there an answer to Switzerland\u2019s spiralling healthcare cost misery? Helsana\u2019s report on medication also revealed the need for further research in the field of gender-specific treatments. According to one analysis, for example, antidepressants are often given to men and women at the same dosage, despite scientific evidence showing that women and men absorb and metabolise the drug differently.<\/p>\n Measures just coming into effect<\/p>\n At the beginning of November, the federal government announced that it had reduced the price of almost 300 drugs by an average of 12% this year. Based on the reductions decided on December 1, savings of at least CHF65 million in healthcare costs are expected.<\/p>\n Since 2017, the FOPH has been examining the prices of a third of the drugs reimbursed by health insurance companies every year. The criteria taken into account are effectiveness, appropriateness and cost-effectiveness.<\/p>\n The review cycle for the period 2023-2025 is expected to result in total savings of at least CHF335 million. The last two cycles (2017-2019 and 2020-2022) had saved a total of CHF740 million for compulsory health insurance.<\/p>\n \n More<\/p>\n More <\/p>\n How drug prices are negotiated in Switzerland and beyond <\/p>\n This content was published on <\/p>\n Apr 23, 2024 <\/p>\n Switzerland\u2019s pharmaceutical sector supplies drugs worldwide, but not all countries receive them with the same price tag. Here\u2019s why. <\/p>\n![\"pharmaceutical\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/79c9adbb154bbfb4ffd7a6cccb639a07-rty3wh-data.jpg\")
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