After the rejection of the health initiatives, new prescriptions are needed
Published: Sunday, Jun 9th 2024, 19:00
Volver a Live Feed
The people and cantons rejected two health insurance proposals on Sunday. However, this does not mean that the debate on high health insurance premiums is over. New recipes to combat rising healthcare costs were already proposed on Sunday.
"I urge all stakeholders: Take your share of the responsibility and submit concrete savings proposals that are acceptable to a majority," said Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider to the media following the rejection of the cost brake initiative by around 63 percent and the rejection of the premium relief initiative by around 56 percent.
The SVP, FDP, Center Party and SP put forward proposals on Sunday. The SP announced an initiative for a public health insurance fund, which it intends to launch in 2025. The conservative parties referred to the parliament's counter-proposal, which will now come into force unless a referendum is held against it.
New ideas and existing projects
They also argued for a reduction in basic health insurance benefits at the party presidents' meetings on "Blick-TV" and on Swiss television SRF. The Center Party is considering launching an initiative for better coordination between the cantons in hospital planning, as party president Gerhard Pfister said on SRF.
Support is also needed for projects that are already on the table, said Baume-Schneider. She mentioned, for example, the bill on uniform financing in the healthcare system, which is expected to be put to the vote at the end of the year.
Milestone for power supply
On Sunday, almost 70 percent of the Swiss population voted clearly in favor of the energy decree. This gives Switzerland rules for generating more domestic energy from solar and wind power.
Federal Councillor Albert Rösti told the media that this was a milestone on the road to a secure electricity supply. However, many more steps must now be taken to convert and expand the electricity supply.
The result was even clearer for the Stop Compulsory Vaccination Initiative: almost three quarters of voters were against it. Nevertheless, initiator Richard Koller is considering launching the initiative again, as he told the Keystone-SDA news agency.
©Keystone/SDA
Spanish 
English 
German 
French 
Arabic