Many drugs come in two forms: expensive branded drugs and cheaper generic copies. Switzerland’s Federal Council hopes a shift to cheaper generic and bio-similar medicines can shave CHF 250 million from Switzerland’s rapidly rising cost of healthcare, reported SRF. New rules on medicine choices and health insurance were already set to come into force on […]
Toxic chemicals found in Swiss population
A recent study by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), which analysed the blood and urine of members of the public, revealed undesirable levels of chemical compounds, in particular perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a substance banned since 2010 in Switzerland. PFOA exposure has been associated with two kinds of cancer as well as four other […]
More than 80% of Switzerland satisfied with life
A survey published this week shows that 82% of Switzerland’s population is at least moderately satisfied with life. The survey published by gfs.berne, based on data collected during April and May 2023, showed that only 18% of the population were either not very satisfied (13%) or not at all satisfied (5%) with life. The remaining […]
Small amounts of drugs will no longer be confiscated, rules Swiss court
A recent decision by the Federal Tribunal, Switzerland’s highest court, opens the way for the police to allow drug users caught with small amounts of banned drugs to keep them, reported SRF. The federal court decision, which relates to cannabis possession, is likely to be applied to other drugs such as cocaine, according to legal […]
Swiss medical students losing interest in becoming family doctors
With 4.6 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants, Switzerland has one of the world’s highest rates of doctors per capita. At the same time it has a shortage of family doctors, reports SRF. World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend a rate of 1 family doctor for every 1,000 people. Switzerland has around 8,500, which comes to 0.97 […]
Why attacks on abortion rights have failed in Switzerland
Abortion rights are a hot political topic in the US and women’s access to them has been significantly reduced recently. Some political groups have tried to reduce access to abortion in Switzerland. However, their attempts have fallen flat. Why? Political scientist Cloé Jans at gfs.bern, a political research organisation, shared her views with SRF. In […]
Switzerland’s enormous Covid cost revealed
On 21 June 2023, the government published figures on the direct health costs of the Covid pandemic. During 2020, 2021 and 2022, the federal government spent CHF 4.9 billion, the cantons up to CHF 2.9 billion and health insurers as much as CHF 1.4 billion. The CHF 9.2 billion total comes out at more than […]
Swiss government sees need to regulate Nutri-score
This week, Switzerland’s Council of States decided the federal government should create a framework for the use of Nutri-Score to avoid some food producers being disadvantaged, reported SRF. Switzerland’s upper house is no doubt responding to complaints by Swiss cheese producers and fruit growers that the nutritional labelling system, which was developed in France, risks […]
Swiss aim to test a melanoma vaccine
An MRNA vaccine against certain kinds of melanoma will soon be tested in Switzerland, reported RTS on 7 June 2023. The vaccine, developed by Moderna, was recently shown to be effective against certain cases of melanoma. HUG hospital in Geneva is aiming to begin clinical trials on the vaccine in summer or autumn this year, […]
18 percent of Long Covid patients in Switzerland still sick after two years
A recently updated Swiss study shows up to 18% of those surveyed with Long Covid had not recovered even two years after infection. Most of those affected by Long Covid recover. However, the results of a study in the canton of Zurich published this week in the British Medical Journal concluded that up to 18% […]
