Interpharma report on Swiss health care costs

In Switzerland, hospital stays are becoming shorter but more expensive, although the proportion of drug costs in total health care spending has remained constant. The 27th edition of Public Health in Switzerland 2007, published by the Swiss research-based drugmakers' association, the Interpharma, carries the latest statistical evidence on the country's services.

Despite improvements in the length of hospital stays, the Interpharma report notes that, at 11.7 days average duration and a cost of 1,077 Swiss francs ($1,214.10) per patient per day, both figures are high by international standards. Swiss citizens record seven physician visits per year with 78 million diagnoses, with the major areas being cardiovascular and psychiatric conditions.

The Swiss prescription drug bill for 2006 was estimated to be 5.5 billion francs or 10.5% of the total public health care expenditure for the country of 52.7 billion francs.