Switzerland reduces prices of 300 drugs

Switzerland reduces prices of 300 drugs

As part of the 2025 annual review, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has reduced the prices of almost 300 medicines on the specialist list (ES) by an average of 12%, generating savings of at least CHF 65 million since December 1.

The criteria used are effectiveness, appropriateness and cost-effectiveness (EAE), FOPH said in a note today. This is an important contribution to cost control in the health sector.

The drugs in question mainly treat cardiovascular, respiratory and infectious diseases. For 50% of the original preparations, no reduction was necessary, as they are already cost-effective compared to international comparisons, writes swissinfo. In contrast, for 70% of generics, co-marketing and biosimilars, cuts were made, reports albinfo.ch.

The three-year review (2023-2025), which examined the last third of medical reimbursement from the mandatory health insurance (AOMS), is expected to yield at least CHF 335 million in savings overall. The last two rounds (2017-2019 and 2020-2022) generated a total of CHF 740 million in savings, the note said.

Due to global supply shortages, the FOPH has granted exemptions from price reductions for 55 critical medicines, mainly anti-infectives, to avoid market withdrawals. To strengthen security of supply, the Federal Council proposed in the second cost containment package a differentiated examination of the EAE criteria, excluding low-cost medicines from the affordability check. The legal basis was adopted on 21 March 2025 and the change in law will enter into force at the beginning of 2027.