Healthcare costs rose by 2.4% in 2023
In 2023, the Swiss healthcare system cost CHF 94 billion, CHF 2.4% more than in the previous year. Over 60% of the healthcare system was financed by households, either directly or via health insurance premiums. According to estimates by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), costs are likely to rise by more than 3% in 2024.
The cost of care services, which are provided in hospitals, doctors' surgeries and socio-medical institutions, among others, increased by 6.0% between 2022 and 2023. At +3.4%, the increase in costs for healthcare goods such as medicines or therapeutic devices was somewhat more moderate. In 2023, care services and healthcare goods together accounted for over three quarters of the costs of healthcare services.
Sharp decline in prevention expenditure
A total of 53.5% less was spent on prevention in 2023 than in the previous year, which was still characterized by the Covid-19 pandemic. It accounted for less than 2% of total healthcare costs in 2023. The costs for laboratory analyses also fell (-8.9%). In contrast, radiology costs continued to rise (+7.0%). The increase in administrative costs, which mainly cover the administrative expenses of health insurers, was particularly striking at 9.6% in 2023.
Cost increase of 7% for medical practices
Hospitals were the most important service providers in 2023, accounting for 36.3% of total costs. Hospital costs increased by 4.5% between 2022 and 2023. The cost growth for medical practices of all specialties amounted to 7.1% and for socio-medical institutions to 4.6%. The increase in 2023 was particularly strong for Spitex services (+7.9%), although these costs accounted for less than 4% of total healthcare costs.
Major cantonal differences
In 2023, the highest healthcare costs were recorded in the canton of Basel-Stadt (CHF 13,600 per capita). At the other end of the ranking, costs in the canton of Zug were almost 40% lower (CHF 8,600 per capita). The proportion of costs for outpatient services ranged from 53.4% in the canton of Geneva to 34.8% in the canton of Uri.
Households bear the majority of healthcare costs
Private households are the most important source of funding for the healthcare system. They paid 21.8% of healthcare costs out of their own pockets and 39.5% in the form of indirect contributions, mainly through health insurance premiums. The remainder was largely borne by the public sector, namely the cantons. Household healthcare expenditure rose by 4.7% between 2022 and 2023, while that of the cantons increased by 1.9%.
Source: bfs.admin.ch
