How Switzerland Can Catch Up in Digital Health

How important is digitalization in healthcare for you personally and politically?

Personally, digitalization in general, and e-health in particular, are essential components for making our healthcare system accessible. Both hold high relevance for me. On a political level, digitizing healthcare is a significant challenge but also a major opportunity. Switzerland has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, yet there’s still substantial potential in terms of digitalization. Digitalization could relieve pressure on healthcare, reduce healthcare costs, and sustainably improve people’s quality of life on many levels. However, implementation primarily fails due to political obstacles. The healthcare system has historically grown within a federalist structure. The many different stakeholders and their interests, as well as financial incentives, vary significantly and sometimes even conflict. This needs to be more strongly integrated into the national strategy to facilitate implementation.

What can Parliament do?

Parliament can create frameworks to advance digitalization in healthcare. Specifically, it can enact laws on data interoperability, ensuring seamless data exchange across different systems. Additionally, Parliament can steer investments in infrastructure and establish regulations and guidelines to support smaller medical practices in their digital transition, as these often struggle with digitalization. Of course, this costs money. But digitalization must be seen as an investment. Thanks to digitalization, treatment quality can improve, and in the long term, costly and time-consuming bureaucratic processes can be reduced.

How do you assess the role of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and the administration in this matter?

The FOPH plays a key role in developing guidelines, regulations, and national strategies for digitalization. It coordinates between the cantons and is crucial in promoting and implementing initiatives such as the electronic patient dossier (EPD).

What political steps are needed for Switzerland to catch up or even take a leading role?

Switzerland needs a clear national e-health strategy that includes all relevant stakeholders. This strategy should address enhanced cooperation between cantons, strengthening the EPD (electronic patient dossier), and incentives for digitalization in medical practices and hospitals – all with full regard for data protection.

Where does Parliament stand on this issue?

Parliament has already passed laws, such as the Federal Act on the Electronic Patient Dossier and the 2018 eHealth Switzerland 2.0 strategy for 2018–2024, but implementation remains challenging. The eHealth strategy set goals and measures agreed upon by the federal and cantonal governments, focusing on expanding the EPD (electronic patient dossier) and coordinating related digitalization efforts. This strategy is now being succeeded by the DigiSanté programme, a project led by the FOPH and the Federal Statistical Office, which will be outlined by the end of 2024, with implementation planned through to 2034. Some members of Parliament call for an accelerated rollout and clearer mandates, while others remain more cautious. I am confident that with the groundwork of the eHealth Switzerland 2.0 strategy and the continuation through DigiSanté, significant progress can be made.

What benefits does increased digitalization offer for people with disabilities?

Digitalization offers tremendous benefits for people with disabilities by simplifying access to information and healthcare services. Telemedicine, accessible digital interfaces, and better availability of health data can significantly ease healthcare access for people with disabilities. This is an important step toward a self-determined life for everyone.

Many medical practices and hospitals hesitate due to the financial and administrative burden of adopting new tools and processes. Could providers gain time in the long run? 

Digital tools can provide long-term relief to healthcare providers, despite initial investments and administrative demands. Patient data can be managed more efficiently, and billing processes simplified, freeing up more resources for patient care.

What benefits does increased digitalization bring – for the healthcare system, patients, and Switzerland as a research hub?

Greater digitalization improves communication among healthcare stakeholders, leading to fewer duplicate tests and more efficient resource use. Patients can better track their treatments and have easier access to their health data. Research benefits from large anonymized datasets, which, with proper data protection, can support personalized medicine and treatments.

If health data becomes more digitized and shared, how is patient control over their data maintained?

Data protection measures must be strengthened and clearly communicated. Patients need to have assurance at all times that they control their health data. Practical solutions include providing patients with straightforward options to consent to or refuse data sharing. Transparency is key to building a trusted foundation for advancing digitalization.

What challenges do you see in implementing a national strategy for secure health data sharing? Are we held back by localism (“Kantönligeist” or canton-focused mentality)?

Our healthcare system is highly federalist, with cantons responsible for many aspects of healthcare. However, digitalization only reaches its full potential through cross-canton coordination. It’s crucial to harmonize digital processes across cantons, yet localism still hinders progress.

What is your long-term vision for the digital transformation of Switzerland’s healthcare system, and how can we achieve these goals?

My vision is for Switzerland to have a fully connected, patient-centered healthcare system that leverages modern technologies. Health data would be securely shared among all stakeholders, supporting personalized and preventive care. Patients would manage their own health data, empowering them in decision-making. Achieving this vision requires stronger collaboration among the federal government, cantons, municipalities, and private providers, along with investments in digital infrastructure.

Islam is a dedicated Swiss politician, entrepreneur, and activist, with a particular focus on disability rights. Since October 2023, he has served as a National Councilor for the Social Democratic Party (SP). Living with cerebral palsy, Islam prioritizes inclusion, advocating especially for accessibility, fair working conditions, and equitable health and social policies. His political career began in the Zurich municipal council, where he championed social participation and progressive inclusion policies that enable self-determined lives for all. Due to cerebral palsy, Islam has both speech and physical impairments and uses a wheelchair.