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The next premium shock will be imminent in a few weeks: healthcare premiums will probably rise again by between six and ten percent. Health Minister Alain Berset (51) blames the others: “The Federal Council has done everything within its powers,” he says in an interview with the “Tages-Anzeiger”.
Center group leader Philipp Matthias Bregy (45) is annoyed by the statement. “Federal Councilman Berset could of course have stopped higher healthcare costs more consistently, yes, he had to.” He is particularly disturbed by the fact that Berset has not taken measures of its own accord, for example to avoid duplication of effort. As an example, he cites X-ray and MRI images that are “still taken and charged two and three times,” says Bregy. “I often had the impression that Berset didn’t want to get to the root of the problem.”
Health Secretary Berset says it has been possible to temper cost growth. He points to the measures he has taken to reduce healthcare costs. So he saved a billion on drug prices and half a billion on the doctor’s rate review. “We have brought two cost-cutting packages to Parliament in 2019 and 2022,” said Berset. “Unfortunately, much of it has been watered down, postponed, or even rejected altogether.” Mitte group leader Bregy is convinced: “Without the political pressure, these cost-cutting packages would not exist to this day.”
FDP-Silberschmidt also criticizes Berset
FDP State Councilor Andri Silberschmidt (29) also criticizes Berset: “Of course Berset could have done more.” For example, he calls the new doctor rate Tardoc. The existing model is over twenty years old. “Berset just needs to approve the new tariff, but he doesn’t,” says Silberschmidt.
“The Berset government also left unified funding for outpatient and inpatient treatment lying around for years.” Until now, outpatient treatments – which are highly subsidized – have only been paid for by health insurers. Health insurers and cantons should now pay for both treatments together.
Digitization is also “a tragedy,” says Silberschmidt. “The electronic patient record is a PDF graveyard.” Berset has now announced improvements. “But that will take years.”
“On the whole he has done what was possible”
SP council member Barbara Gysi (59), on the other hand, protects her Bundesrat. “Of course there would have been a single chance for Alain Berset to do more. But in general he did what was possible.” Parliament has blocked or weakened many projects. “The center party in particular has many lobbyists for pharmaceuticals and health insurance in its ranks who pursue their own interests.”
She also criticizes the cantons: “You have to implement the measures and it is in your own hands to reduce healthcare costs. In addition, they should do much more to lower premiums.”
Green National Councilor Manuela Weichelt, 56, is at least partially protecting Federal Councilor Berset: “We don’t have a cost problem, we have a funding problem,” she says. In addition to the federal government, the cantons are also responsible for this. “Ten cantons pay fewer premium discounts than ten years ago,” says Weichelt. “But when it came to financing, Berset could have been more innovative and proposed bolder solutions.” Weichelt himself advocates a bonus based on income. “The real problem is financing through anti-social premiums. Average premiums have risen almost twice as fast as health care spending over the past 25 years.” The Federal Council rejected the proposal in late August. (brother)
Source:Blick
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