Health Medication costs amounted to over CHF 9 billion in 2023

The cost of medicines in Switzerland rose by 5.9% in 2023. According to the latest Helsana Medicines Report, they amounted to CHF 9.02 billion in the outpatient sector, making them the largest block of costs in basic insurance for the first time.

In addition to the costs, the number of people with cover (+1.5 percent) and the number of medication purchases (+2.1 percent) also increased, as can be seen from the Medicines Report published on Tuesday. Other cost blocks in basic insurance are outpatient services in doctors' surgeries or hospitals, inpatient hospital stays as well as nursing homes and Spitex services.

The reasons for the cost growth are the demographic development with an increasingly older population, but also new launches and market expansions of very expensive drug therapies. This is reflected in increased per capita costs for people with benefits (+4.3 percent), the health insurer Helsana also reported.

Cancer and immune system drugs caused costs of CHF 2.8 billion. This corresponded to around a third of drug costs, although they only accounted for 1.9 percent of the total. Cost drivers included the prostate cancer drug Erleada, the breast cancer drug Enhertu and Keytruda, which is used to treat various types of cancer.

Two thirds of the costs of medicines dispensed in pharmacies, doctors' surgeries and hospitals on an outpatient basis were accounted for by products without generics, i.e. original medicines. In order to reduce their share, the introduction of generics in Switzerland must become more attractive, according to the report. This previously untapped savings potential could contribute to cost containment in the future.

The analyses are based on claims data from Helsana's basic insurance, which according to its own information counts around one seventh of the Swiss population among its customers in this area. According to the press release, the results are extrapolated to the entire population and are therefore representative for Switzerland, although they are estimates.

SDA