Swiss drug prices fall to European norms

Switzerland is no longer a "pricing island," according to the country's research-based drug industry group, Interpharma. The differences in prices between Switzerland and economically-comparable countries has disappeared to a large extent, the group argues, after the expansion by the government regulator, santesuisse, of a reference pricing scheme.

Swiss patients now pay on average less than in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, Interpharma claims, based on prices for 200 commonly-prescribed medicines. However, santesuisse states that there remains a saving potential of up to 7% on the manufacturer's prices compared with the main reference countries.

This view is misleading, Interpharma claims, because it ignores the results of a study, according to which Swiss medicine prices are no longer more expensive than the average price of economically-comparable countries. Part of the reason for the divergent view is that the government is basing its data on prices levels before a reduction in February this year, which led to savings of around 100.0 million Swiss francs ($92.6 million).