Non-communicable diseases weigh heavily on healthcare costs
Treating muscle and skeletal disorders costs CHF8.7 billion a year in Switzerland
Keystone
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 80% of healthcare costs in Switzerland, with cardiovascular diseases being the most expensive, according to the first study to look at direct treatment costs of NCDs.
Cardiovascular diseases are most costly, accounting for 15.6% (CHF10 billion) of total healthcare costs. Muscle and skeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis, rheumatism and back pain follow at 13.4% (CHF8.7 billion).
Third, at 10.6% (CHF6.9 billion), is the treatment of mental illnesses such as depression.
Cancer, which is ranked the seventh-most expensive NCD at 6% (CHF3.9 billion), came in with lower than expected costs, said the authors.
Though the second leading cause of death in the country, it’s often fatal nature means the duration of treatment is relatively short, they said. New and expensive drugs can increase the life expectancy of many patients, but they make the cancer more of a chronic disease.
Similarly, only 1.7% (CHF1.1 billion) of treatment costs in Switzerland are for dementia, even though the disease is often cited as the reason for rising health costs. The authors explain that fewer people have dementia than generally thought, while the treatment of many patients is relatively cheap, as in some cases relatives take on the care and support.
The figures were compiled by an interdisciplinary research team that based its research on a report commissioned by the Federal Office of Public Health. This latter report was drafted in 2014 by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, the University of Zurich, the Polynomics research institute and Helsana health insurance.
More
More
Price watchdog targets rising health costs
This content was published on
The growing expense related to healthcare in Switzerland is a major concern for the price watchdog.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Legal action filed against Swiss purchase of Israeli drones
This content was published on
Legal action aims to put an end to the delivery of the six Elbit reconnaissance drones already plagued by delays and setbacks.
Higher direct payments fail to curb scrub encroachment on alpine pastures
This content was published on
The scrub encroachment on Swiss alpine pastures leads to the loss of grassland and damages the typical landscape. It is also responsible for the decline in biodiversity. Despite higher direct payments, the bushes continue to spread.
Head of Swiss financial regulator’s Banks division quits
This content was published on
Thomas Hirschi, head of the Banks division of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA will leave at the end of August.
Swiss population satisfied with life according to survey
This content was published on
In a survey, the population of German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland expressed general satisfaction with their lives. Respondents were less happy with politics and their personal finances, according to the online comparison service Moneyland.
WHO ‘extremely concerned’ about growing vaccination scepticism
This content was published on
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), vaccination scepticism and a collapse in funding for vaccination campaigns pose a major threat to the health of the world's population.
High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions
This content was published on
The priorities of wealthy private individuals have shifted against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade disputes. While spending on luxury goods is declining, demand for travel and experiences is unabated.
Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus
This content was published on
Researchers from the Universities of Basel and Zurich (UZH) have sequenced the genome of the Spanish flu virus, thanks to a sample taken from an 18-year-old Swiss boy who died in the city on the Limmat in 1918, when the pandemic spread around the world.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Court rules insurance must pay for childbirth
This content was published on
The costs of childbirth or a treatment against AIDS must be reimbursed even if patients are in arrears with their health insurance payments.
This content was published on
Premiums for people under 18 will likely rise by 5%, and residents of western Switzerland are expected to be hit especially hard. For example, the rate is expected to go up by 6.4% in canton Vaud, and 5.4% in canton Geneva. At the other end of the spectrum, health insurance for people in canton Schwyz in…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.