Switzerland is to introduce reforms to reduce its health service costs and tackle the current funding crisis. The reform package includes sending patients to other countries where treatments are cheaper.
The package also includes allowing health insurers to have smaller financial reserves and will bring into force a deal with pharmaceutical companies to make drugs up to 30% cheaper.
It follows measures already introduced that mean that patients who opt to take brand name drugs when generic versions are available will be reimbursed less by health insurers. Health insurance companies will be obliged to refund only 80% of the cost of brand name drugs, as opposed to 90% previously, if it can be shown that an equivalent generic product is on the market that costs at least 20% less.
The reform proposals, prepared by the Home Office minister, Pascal Couchepin, will be reviewed by the federal government by March and are expected to be put into effect on 1 May.
Mr Couchepin is to launch a pilot project whereby the costs of getting treatment abroad will be covered for patients with basic domestic insurance once local doctors have given appropriate approval.
It has not yet been said what kinds of treatment will be included in this scheme, but inpatient care has been explicitly mentioned as a priority.
The reforms will initially be implemented in the canton of Basel and will be closely monitored by health experts. The federal health department would be looking to see not only whether offering treatment abroad was economically viable but also that it ensured that patients got good quality care, said Daniel Wiedmer, a department spokesman.
Hospitals in the Lörrach region of neighbouring Germany were mentioned as the most likely destination for the Swiss patients under the new pilot insurance scheme.
Mr Couchepin said the move was aimed at significantly cutting costs and stimulating competition within the country.
The move to cut drug prices by 30% by 2007 alone is expected to reduce healthcare costs by SFr250m (£110m; $200m; €160m). Under the plan drug prices will be checked more often, to gradually bring down the high local prices to levels in the rest of Europe.
