Federal votes – Cost-cutting initiative fails due to majority vote – News

• The Swiss electorate has rejected the initiative “For lower premiums – cost brake in the healthcare system”, the so-called cost brake initiative.
• The initiative fails due to the majority of the cantons.
• According to the first projection at 1 p.m., only 35 percent of voters voted for the cost brake.

The initiative of the center is unlikely to be accepted. After 18 of 26 cantons have been counted, only the cantons of Jura, Neuchâtel and Valais voted for the cost brake in the health care system. The center, which launched this cost brake initiative, is disappointed. “It is a missed opportunity to get to the root of the problem, and that would have been the cost,” said center National Councilor Lorenz Hess to SRF.

The opposition’s campaign painted a terrible picture. “People were afraid that they would no longer have the same health benefits. But many independent studies show that there is billions of dollars in potential in the health sector.” Cuts in benefits were only in the very distant future.

Barbara Gysi is also convinced that there are opportunities for savings. However, the SP National Councillor and President of the Health Commission says: “We are working in Parliament with various measures to find solutions to this problem. But this does not require a separate constitutional article.”

Increased health costs

Over the past ten years, healthcare costs have risen steadily. Wages, on the other hand, have only risen by six percent over the same period. The center’s “cost brake” initiative therefore calls for the introduction of such a cost brake in compulsory health insurance. According to the popular initiative, the federal government and cantons would have to take measures together with the players in the healthcare system if healthcare costs were to rise too much compared to wage growth.

This is what the supporters say

Proponents argue that this cost brake can be used to put pressure on people to finally take action. All actors must take responsibility for cost developments. Misincentives and cost drivers in the health care system must be structurally combatted.

According to the center party, this includes, for example, the overpriced drugs. In Switzerland, these sometimes cost five times as much as abroad. According to the initiators, a further billion francs could be saved annually by increasing outpatient treatment instead of inpatient treatment.

This is what the opposition says

Opponents argue that the initiative falls short and is too rigid because it exclusively links the braking mechanism to economic and wage developments. The request does not take into account factors such as the ageing of the population or medical and technical advances.

No new constitutional article is needed to pass cost-cutting measures. The opposition also warns of a reduction in services if the initiative is accepted. According to the No Committee, hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers would then have to cut urgently needed services. “It would lead to a two-tier healthcare system.”