Cost brake initiative with the right title but wrong approach
Published: Sunday, Jun 9th 2024, 15:40
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Following the rejection of the centrist cost brake initiative, the conservative party spectrum expressed relief. The population supports the Swiss healthcare system and rejects the rationing of services. The centrists see the problem being dragged out.
Switzerland has missed an opportunity, said Lorenz Hess, a member of the Bernese National Council, on Sunday in the Swiss television program SRF. The service providers had aroused fears of cutbacks. Behind this was the fear that their sinecure would be ransacked.
Before benefits were cut, the huge savings potential would have had to be exhausted first. Now the issue is going into an endless loop. If savings proposals are put on the table, there will always be someone who says "not like that, not now".
The centrist party wrote that 37% of voters approved its initiative. That is significantly more than twice the number of voters. The signal is clear that the population expects swift measures. The parties are called upon to implement the measures that have been known for a long time.
On behalf of the opposing committee, SP National Councillor Barbara Gysi (SP/SG) explained that the population would maintain access to the healthcare system for all. The initiative would have led to certain benefits being removed from basic insurance.
Linking healthcare costs only to economic development is not enough. Ageing and medical progress must also be taken into account.
Deceptive promise
For the SVP, the initiative had the right title, but was unable to keep its own promises. It could not be implemented and would have led to a chaotic two-tier medical system, as the party wrote on Sunday. Personal responsibility and self-provision should be worthwhile for the population.
Regine Sauter, Zurich FDP National Councillor and member of the National Council Committee for Social Security and Health (SGK-N), welcomed the clear rejection. She said it showed that the population was behind the healthcare system. They had rejected the rationing of medical services. The costs had to be controlled in other ways. According to the FDP, the centrist initiative was a "pure marketing instrument" from the outset.
The Green Liberal Party considered the initiative to be ineffective, as health politician and National Councillor Melanie Mettler (BE) said. The people want effective solutions and not empty promises. With Parliament's counter-proposal, the Federal Council could set cost and quality targets every four years and adjust the tariff structures. However, effective solutions are essential.
No crowbar
The business umbrella organization Economiesuisse welcomed the fact that healthcare is not restricted and dependent on the economy. The initiative would have restricted care with a great deal of bureaucracy. The population continues to attach great importance to high medical quality. The counter-proposal is a step towards cost containment without compromising quality.
For the Swiss Trade Association, it is undisputed that the growth in healthcare costs must be curbed. However, the initiative would have been the wrong approach. The counter-proposal is better designed and will curb the increase without "using the crowbar.
The hospital association H+ believes that the quality and accessibility of healthcare is assured. Linking healthcare expenditure to the economy would have led to cuts in medical care in times of economic uncertainty. This would have serious consequences, especially in a crisis such as the coronavirus pandemic.
Problematic role of the cantons
Ospita, the association of Swiss healthcare companies, called for politicians to take the legitimate concern of the economic use of premiums and taxes seriously. The multiple role of the cantons as those responsible for hospital planning, tariff authorities and owners of cantonal hospitals is controversial. Various economists would consider the cantons to be partly responsible for excessive tariffs.
The employees' association Travailsuisse called for swift, effective and sustainable measures to counter cost growth. However, neither healthcare staff nor the quality of care should suffer as a result.
©Keystone/SDA
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