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HEALTH PANORAMA 2025
Key facts and figures on the Swiss health and pharmaceutical landscape
The Swiss healthcare and pharmaceutical sector finds itself caught between medical progress, rising demands and global competition. The ‘Health Panorama 2025’ provides a fact-based overview of key developments – from life expectancy and the pharmaceutical sector to Switzerland’s role as a centre for research and business.
Key Points at a Glance
The Swiss healthcare system
Switzerland has one of the most efficient healthcare systems in the world and boasts the highest life expectancy globally at 84.3 years. This is the result of high-quality care, medical innovations and a high quality of life. At the same time, a structural shift is evident: the population is ageing, chronic diseases are on the rise and healthcare costs are increasing. Nevertheless, expenditure on medicines is growing at a below-average rate and accounts for around 12% of total expenditure.
Pharmaceutical sector
The pharmaceuticals sector is growing at a moderate pace, driven primarily by rising demand due to demographic trends. At the same time, regular price reviews are dampening growth and leading to annual savings of over CHF 1.5 billion. Patent-protected medicines continue to dominate the market, whilst generics and biosimilars are becoming increasingly important. Innovation remains key: new therapies – such as those for cancer or autoimmune diseases – are continually expanding treatment options.
Focus on the patient
Innovative medicines not only improve quality of life, but also reduce the long-term societal costs of disease. They lower mortality rates, shorten hospital stays and enable patients to return to their daily lives more quickly. At the same time, a growing problem is emerging regarding access to innovations: fewer and fewer new medicines are becoming available in Switzerland in a timely manner. Delays in the reimbursement system mean that patients have to wait longer for new treatments.
Leading the way in research and development
Switzerland is one of the world’s leading centres for pharmaceutical research. The industry is the largest private investor in research and development and makes a significant contribution to medical progress. At the same time, the sector is under pressure: the number of clinical trials is falling, development costs are rising and success rates remain low. Innovation, however, remains crucial to enabling new therapies and tackling future medical challenges.
Strong economic policy framework
The pharmaceutical sector is Switzerland’s most important export industry and a key pillar of the economy. It generates significant added value, creates jobs and strengthens international competitiveness. However, the country’s appeal as a business location is coming under increasing pressure: geopolitical uncertainties, falling investment and rising regulatory requirements are jeopardising Switzerland’s long-term position in the global marketplace.
Health policy is location policy
The pharmaceutical industry makes a key contribution to health, innovation and prosperity in Switzerland. However, geopolitical dynamics are putting Switzerland under enormous pressure as a business location and endangering the supply of essential medications for patients – and not only in Switzerland, but around the world. Today, health policy is also location policy.
Swift and well-coordinated political action is now required if the innovative pharmaceutical industry is to remain a driver of growth and a guarantor of prosperity for Switzerland. The “Health Panorama” provides an overview and offers valuable food for thought in this regard – our contribution to a fact-based discourse, a healthy population and a strong Switzerland as an industry location.
We hope you enjoy reading this edition of Health Panorama, and we look forward to any feedback you may have.
Dr. René P. Buholzer
CEO and Delegate of the Board
Key figures
at a glance
84.3 years
Switzerland has the highest life expectancy in the world, benefiting from high-quality healthcare and ongoing medical innovation.
114 billion Swiss francs
The pharmaceutical sector is set to achieve an export volume of 114 billion Swiss francs in 2024, making it Switzerland’s most important export industry.
1st place
In 2025, Switzerland will take first place in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, making it one of the most competitive locations in the world.
Publication
Health Panorama 2025
Our Health Panorama offers a compact overview of the key facts, figures and developments related to the healthcare system, the pharmaceuticals market and Switzerland’s position as a pharma hub.