More Power for Digital Health

The global digital health market is growing and expected to reach around USD 200 billion in 2025. Interest is also increasing among the Swiss population, with telemedicine, e-prescriptions, and easy access to medical data being particularly in demand. Ninety-one percent of respondents also favor an electronic patient record (EPR). Despite these positive signals, Switzerland lags behind when making international comparisons.

However, ZHAW expert Prof. Alfred Angerer can see changes taking place: “We are witnessing regulatory progress, an active innovation scene with startups and SMEs, and the first visible steps towards greater digitalization in the healthcare system.”

Digital maturity of key stakeholder groups in the Swiss healthcare system paints a mixed picture. On a scale of 1 to 10, pharmaceutical concerns (6.8) and health insurance companies (6.0) rank the highest, hospitals (4.6) and Spitex organizations (4.6) occupy the midfield, and pharmacies (4.1) and GP practices (3.4) remain at the bottom. 

The majority of employees view digitalization positively, particularly in terms of reducing the administrative burden. At the same time, they stress there are barriers to overcome.

“Many feel uncomfortable dealing with new technology, citing complex data protection regulations and a lack of compatibility between systems,” explains ZHAW researcher Sina Berger.

Published in German, the Digital Health Report confirms that the population is in favor of digitalization, regulatory initiatives such as the DigiSanté federal initiative are taking effect, and regional clusters in Zurich and Basel are driving innovation.

At the same time, there is still a need for action. While hospitals, clinic groups, health insurance companies, and sections of the pharmaceutical industry are technically well-positioned, GP practices, pharmacies, and Spitex organizations are trailing behind. The authors of the study are calling for a coordinated networking strategy – with standardized technical principles, international interfaces, and targeted innovation support for patient-centered care.