From January 1st 2026, certain vaccines in Switzerland will be exempt from the insurance excess, the Federal Council has announced. The measure aims to raise vaccination rates across the population. Screening for colorectal cancer will also be expanded and covered for people aged 50 to 75. The change applies to vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, covid-19, […]
The reasons for Switzerland’s recent air pollution
Much of Switzerland awoke last Sunday beneath a blanket of smog. The skies have since cleared somewhat, but the air remains far from pristine. The sun’s dim appearance, filtered through a whitish haze, was not initially due to Saharan dust, as many might have assumed. Instead, the culprit was smoke from wildfires that have plagued […]
Women much more likely to take obesity medication in Switzerland
Weight-loss injections are taking off in Switzerland. But despite obesity being more prevalent among men, it is women who are far more likely to be prescribed them. A newly published report from the Swiss Health Observatory (Obsan), part of the national healthcare atlas, reveals that demand for drugs such as Wegovy—produced by Danish firm Novo […]
Switzerland to ban single-use e-cigarettes
On 4 June 2025, Switzerland’s upper house voted to ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, known as vapes, marking a rare show of regulatory boldness in a country with weak laws against smoking. By 19 votes to 11, the Council of States approved a motion introduced by Green Party MP Christophe Clivaz that was already […]
Slow down in premium hikes in 2026, says federal health authority
Swiss health insurance premiums are set to rise again in 2026—but perhaps at a more moderate pace than in recent years, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced this week. After two years of steep increases, federal health officials are cautiously forecasting a slowdown. FOPH was nonetheless reluctant to over promise, reported RTS. In […]
Swiss health insurance premiums set to rise again in 2026
Swiss residents may soon face another jump in health insurance premiums. Comparis, a consumer price comparison service, forecasts an average increase of 4% for 2026. This would reflect a projected 3.7% rise in healthcare costs for the same period. According to Felix Schneuwly, health insurance expert at Comparis, the projected increase would mark a return […]
Gender inequalities in Swiss health
Men and women in Switzerland are far from equal when it comes to health. On average, men die nearly four years before women and are more likely to be overweight. And women are more likely to suffer from chronic illness and depression, according to the 2022 Swiss Health Survey published by the Federal Statistical Office […]
No more vegan chicken – Swiss court bans animal names for plant-based products
This week, Switzerland’s highest court has ruled that plant-based meat alternatives may no longer carry names that directly refer to animals, such as “vegan pork” or “plant-based chicken”, reported RTS. The Federal Court sided with the federal government in its appeal against a Zurich-based producer, Planted Foods, requiring it to rename several of its products. […]
Swiss avalanche deaths well below average this ski season
Switzerland recorded 10 avalanche-related deaths during the 2024–25 winter season, according to the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) in Davos—well below the 20-year average of 19 fatalities. The season was also marked by unusually mild temperatures and a lack of snow, especially in eastern parts of the Alps. Between 1 October 2024 and […]
A majority of Swiss favour of a single health insurer, according to poll
With health insurance premiums rising for the third consecutive year, Swiss voters are showing renewed interest in an old idea: replacing the country’s many competing health insurers with a single public insurer. According to a recent survey by GFS Bern, 53% of respondents support such a plan. Right now, any idea that promises to cut […]
