On behalf of Interpharma, Swiss Economics examined how much the Swiss population values access to innovative medicines through mandatory health insurance. The study is based on a discrete choice experiment with a representative sample of 1,318 respondents. Two aspects were principally assessed: the availability of innovative medicines in mandatory health insurance (OKP) and the time until they are reimbursed.

The estimated willingness to pay for an increase in availability from the current 50 percent to 90 percent averages CHF 33 per month. For immediate reimbursement instead of the current delay of around seven months, it amounts to CHF 17 per month. For restrictions in access, respondents demand higher compensation than they are willing to pay for improvements of the same size. Willingness to pay is significantly positive across all population groups studied.

• Discrete choice experiment
• Estimation of willingness to pay using a logit model

Publications

• Link to the study (in German)