Federal government examines cost coverage of medicines purchased abroad
Published: Thursday, Nov 23rd 2023, 12:30
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In future, anyone who obtains a medicine prescribed by a doctor more cheaply abroad instead of in Switzerland should have the costs reimbursed by the insurance company. The Federal Council is prepared to amend the law accordingly in the coming year.
This is what the national government writes in its response, published on Thursday, to a proposal by FDP National Councillor Marcel Dobler (SG). He is calling for the compulsory health insurance scheme (OKP) to be reimbursed for medicines physically purchased abroad by private customers in order to reduce prices and costs. High drug prices are a major driver of healthcare costs.
One condition should be that the medicine is licensed in Switzerland and has been prescribed by a doctor licensed and practicing in Switzerland. The other condition should be that the medicine purchased abroad is cheaper than the same medicine in Switzerland.
The Federal Council writes that it already decided around two years ago that certain resources and items obtained abroad should be reimbursed by the OKP. It is planned to draw up corresponding amendments to the legal basis in the coming year.
Currently, the costs of medicines purchased abroad are only reimbursed if the insured person needs them during a temporary stay abroad due to an illness that occurred there. The price level of medicines in other European countries is lower than in Switzerland. The price differences for generics are particularly striking: they are around half the price abroad.
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