Ensuring medical progress with high-quality health data

Interpharma members currently invest almost CHF 9 billion annually in research and development in Switzerland (source: Health Panorama 2024). However, Switzerland is losing much of its attractiveness in the competition between locations when it comes to innovation with digital elements (source: BAK Economics). This has consequences for healthcare provision, research, and the attractiveness of the location. After all, data is a key prerequisite for the development and availability of modern, precise medicine. Nevertheless, Switzerland lacks the infrastructure, governance, and, in some cases, the legal basis for the structured collection and secondary use of health data. What is needed is a health data ecosystem that builds trust, creates benefits, and enables fair access.

In order for Switzerland to catch up in the digital transformation of healthcare, the funds already allocated to DigiSanté must be used efficiently and in a targeted manner. Further work on the digitization of the healthcare system must be carried out in coordination with the program. In addition, a clear legal framework must be created, in particular through work on the framework law on the secondary use of data, the revision of the Human Research Act, the new legislation to be drafted on the Swiss Health Data Space, and any special legislation on a data space for health-related research.