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HEALTH

Which medications will become more expensive in Switzerland in July?

The cost of medications in Switzerland is already quite a bit higher than elsewhere in Europe. And now certain drugs will become even pricier.

Published: 20 May 2024 10:25 CEST
Updated: 24 June 2024 15:02 CEST
Which medications will become more expensive in Switzerland in July?
Ibuprofen is among drugs that will become more expensive. Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Swiss consumers pay significantly more for their medicines than those in neighbouring European countries. 

This is what emerges from various data published over the years.

“In Switzerland, we pay far too much for medicines compared to abroad,” Matthias Müller, a spokesperson for SantéSuisse, an umbrella group for Swiss health insurance providers, told Swiss media in 2023. 

Even the price of many generic medicines is twice as high in Switzerland as in nine EU countries.

For instance, generics are on average 48 percent cheaper in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Austria and Sweden than in Switzerland, according to a price comparison.

And prices for a number of commonly-used drugs will rise even further in the near future.

Why is that?

The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) is adapting a new model for calculating the distribution margin. 

A distribution margin is the difference between the distributor’s cost of acquiring goods and the price at which those goods are sold.

From July 1st, 2024, inexpensive medicines whose factory price is less than, or equal to, 15 francs will become more expensive.

This change will affect more than half of medications currently being sold in Switzerland.

As a result of this move, “additional costs of several hundred million will be passed on to patients,” according to Intergenrika, which represents generic drug manufacturers in Switzerland. 

In a nutshell, consumers will pay slightly lower prices for medicines that were previously more expensive, but will also end up paying more  for those that are currently cheaper – like generics.

Which meds will become more expensive?

Pain medications are among those set to become pricier.

One of them is ibuprofen, a popular anti-inflammatory.

While a box of 20 400-mg tablets today costs 5.92 francs, its price will practically double to 11 francs from July 1st.

Though its manufacturing cost will remain the same as today – 1.58 francs – the distribution margin will increase from 4.19 to 9.09 francs.

The same goes for another often-used pain medication, Ponstan.

Ten 500-mg tablets will cost 11.21 francs instead of 6.19 currently.

The manufacturer will continue to charge 1.82 francs for the drug, but the distribution margin will increase from 4.22 to 9.11 francs.

And even generic drugs, which are cheaper – and often by much – will get pricier, at consumers’ expense.

Will some drugs be cheaper?

Yes, some will become slightly less expensive.

One example is the anticoagulant Rivaroxaban whose price will drop from 281 to 267 francs.

READ ALSO: Why you will pay more for certain drugs in Switzerland 2024?

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FOOD AND DRINK

EXPLAINED: What does the ‘bio’ label on foods in Switzerland really mean?

All major Swiss supermarkets have products designated as ‘bio’, which refers to their ‘organic’ farming or manufacturing methods. But what exactly does this label represent?

Published: 24 June 2024 11:31 CEST
EXPLAINED: What does the 'bio' label on foods in Switzerland really mean?

In its press release published in June 2024, Bio Suisse, an umbrella group for organic food producers, said that residents of Switzerland are international ‘bio’ champions. 

“With consumption of 454 francs per capita, Switzerland ranks first in international comparison,” the organisation said. “In no other European country is the organic basket of goods as large.”

In terms of preference for organic food, “Switzerland is ahead of Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg and Sweden. Germany follows in sixth place and France just behind in seventh place,” Bio-Suisse added.

This finding is not surprising because the consumption of this more expensive type of food is directly linked to income: the wealthier the country, the more its residents are willing to spend on organic products.

What does a ‘bio’ label stand for in Switzerland?

In a nutshell, organic products must meet much higher standards and comply with more requirements than the ‘conventional’ foods in the way they are grown and manufactured.

Contrary to most conventional production methods, organic farming is more sustainable — that is, it protects the environment and conserves resources instead of depleting them.

A total of 7,362 organic farmers and producers are members of Bio Suisse.

In addition, more than 2,300 operations abroad are also certified according to the Bio Suisse standards, which means their farming / production methods are equivalent to those practiced in Switzerland.

Can you trust a ‘bio’ label, or is it just a lot of hype (as some people claim?)

In Switzerland, this process is strictly controlled by various organic farming ordinances, which are enforced by the Federal Office for Agriculture (BLW). 

This means that every farm that produces, prepares, trades or imports organic products is inspected and certified at least once a year by one of the four accredited and approved certification bodies in Switzerland.

These laws also set out the principles by which agricultural products and foodstuffs labelled as organic must be made, and which non-toxic substances are authorised for use in organic farming and for preparing organic food.

Why are organic products more expensive than conventional ones?

Among the main reasons are more rigorous production and certification standards, which must meet all the requirements set out by the BLW.

Also, operational costs involved in the use of natural, pesticide-free fertilisers and high-quality animal feed, are higher in organic farming than in conventional one.

Additionally, the supply of organic food in Swiss supermarkets is more limited than that of conventional one, which pushes prices up.

And then there is this often-asked question: is organic food in Switzerland in really healthier?

Some people will swear by the better quality and higher nutritional value of organic products, while others will say the benefits are exaggerated.

There is no definite answer to this question, except this: some studies have shown possible health benefits of organic foods when compared with foods grown using conventional process.

However, there is limited information to prove how these differences can give potential overall health benefits.

But Zurich authorities believe in the ‘power’ of organic foods: in 2022, they mandated that most of the food served in the city’s hospitals, care centres, childcare facilities, and schools, be organic.

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