He added that higher patient contributions for hospital stays, as well as limiting the free choice of doctors were also important to keep health costs in check in the future.
Burkhalter on Wednesday announced that the average health insurance premium will increase by 2.2 per cent next year, albeit with considerable differences for certain age groups and geographical regions.
Health insurance, which has been mandatory since 1996, has become a major financial burden on many individuals and families.
Politicians, doctors, hospitals, the pharmaceutical industry and private health insurance companies have been at loggerheads over plans to reduce health costs.
Parliament earlier this month agreed to promote a system encouraging doctors networks, known as Managed Care, but the bill is likely to be challenged to a nationwide vote.
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.
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New bid launched for single health insurance
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Under the proposal, one public company would offer compulsory basic insurance, campaigners said on Monday. “The current system with more than 80 providers is costly, bureaucratic, lacks transparency and is no longer capable of a quality health service,” said Erika Ziltener, head of the initiative’s committee. It is estimated that a single insurance would lead…
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According to the Federal Statistics Office, healthcare expenditure in 2008—the latest figures available—soared to SFr58.5 billion ($60.5 billion), or 10.7 per cent of gross domestic product. That is 5.9 per cent more than the previous five years. It puts Switzerland among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s biggest spenders, with only the United States…
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According to the Santésuisse health insurance association, 150,000 people have already been suspended due to non-payment of premiums and are only eligible for emergency treatment. Some 400,000 are additionally facing claims by their insurance companies and risk losing their insurance coverage. A patient with suspected cancer cannot be admitted to hospital for tests; an operation…
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Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers patients a different approach to healing, which now has many adepts in the West as well. The doctor helps the patient to mobilise his or her own instincts to find the way to health. (swissinfo.ch, Dahai Shao, Xudong Yang)
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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.