Switzerland performs poorly in digitization
According to a study by the ZHAW, the Swiss healthcare system continues to lag behind in international comparison. The pandemic has accelerated due to digitalization, but the population is still open to solutions.
Switzerland is still in the international midfield when it comes to the digitization of the healthcare system. This is the conclusion of the latest Digital Health Report published by the Winterthur Institute for Health Economics at the ZHAW School of Management and Law. The various rankings indicate a great need to catch up, both internationally and domestically.
More remote consultations
In some cases, however, the pandemic has now triggered a surge in digitization: For example, the number of doctor consultations via the Internet and telephone has increased significantly, and various institutions have stepped up their investments in digitization measures.
Regardless of the corona crisis, according to the ZHAW, there has been a rapidly growing number of digitization initiatives in recent years, particularly in Spitex and in retirement and nursing homes.
"The Corona crisis in particular has clearly revealed the digitalization gaps in the Swiss healthcare system," says ZHAW health economist Alfred Angerer. Among other things, he cites examples where case numbers still had to be transmitted by fax.
The reasons for the slow progress can also be attributed to the lack of skilled workers and the low priority given to health institutions, the study added.
The ZHAW study concludes that the Swiss population would like to see more digital offerings and that patients also have increasingly high expectations, for example with regard to electronic exchange with healthcare providers or access to personal data.
Source: ZHAW
