As part of the triennial review of pharmaceuticals, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has implemented an average price reduction of twelve percent on approximately 300 pharmaceuticals for 2024, projected to yield savings of at least CHF 90 million. This review assesses one-third of the drugs on the List of Pharmaceutical Specialties (Spezialitätenliste, SL) each year to ensure they meet the criteria of efficacy, appropriateness, and cost-effectiveness, all required for coverage under the compulsory health insurance (obligatorische Krankenpflegeversicherung, OKP).

The 2024 review included original, generics, co-marketing medicinal products, and biosimilars used, for example, to treat skin disorders, neurological, and hematological conditions. Price reductions were mandated for 55 percent of the original medicinal products reviewed, while 45 percent maintained their current prices due to continued economic efficiency. Generics, co-marketing medicinal products, and biosimilars were also assessed, with nearly 70 percent subject to price reductions. These savings supplement last year’s reductions, which totaled CHF 165 million, raising cumulative savings in recent years to CHF 740 million.

In light of global pharmaceutical supply constraints affecting Switzerland, the FOPH has granted exceptions to price reductions in certain cases to ensure supply security. For medicinal products addressing pain and muscle tension, approximately 90 exceptions have been made in the past two years.

For more information, see here.