Significant untapped potential for digitalisation in Swiss healthcare
Interest in digital healthcare services is growing, but Switzerland is lagging behind internationally. Doctors’ practices and pharmacies, in particular, have considerable ground to make up.
What is the state of digitalisation in the Swiss healthcare sector? According to the latest Digital Health Report, public interest in digital services is growing, with telemedicine, e-prescriptions and easy access to medical data proving particularly popular. Ninety-one per cent of people surveyed in Switzerland are in favour of the electronic patient record. However, the report also shows that Switzerland is lagging behind by international standards. Co-author Alfred Angerer can nevertheless see positive developments: “We are witnessing regulatory progress as well as an active innovation scene.”
Significant differences in digital maturity
The study examined six stakeholder groups, whose level of digital maturity was assessed by experts. Pharmaceutical companies and health insurers achieved the highest levels of maturity, scoring 6.8 and 6 respectively on a scale of 1 to 10. Hospitals (4.6) and home care organisations (4.6) occupy a middle position, while pharmacies (4.1) and doctors’ practices (3.4) lag significantly behind.
The report also found that the majority of employees view digitalisation positively, particularly because of its potential to reduce administrative burdens. At the same time, they also highlight a number of barriers that need to be overcome. “Many respondents feel uncertain dealing with new technology, citing complex data protection regulations and a lack of compatibility between systems,” says co-author Sina Berger.
Coordinated networking strategy needed
The report confirmed that the Swiss population supports digitalisation, federal regulatory initiatives are beginning to have an impact, and regional clusters in Zurich and Basel are driving innovation. At the same time, there is still a need for action, particularly in medical practices and pharmacies. An integrated strategy combined with a coordinated development plan is essential for successful digital transformation.