Hospitals urgently want a 5% increase in their prices

Are we heading towards an increase in hospital fees? This is what the umbrella organization "H+ Swiss Hospitals" is calling for on Monday, sounding the alarm about the state of hospitals' finances. It is based on an analysis of more than 90% of them by the SpitalBenchmark association. The verdict: practically none of them are managing to generate the margins necessary for profitability.

Despite a slight price adjustment in 2024, their average margins are barely 4%, while a threshold of 10% is essential to guarantee their long-term operation, notes H+. The price increases obtained "after tough negotiations," especially in the stationary sector, were not enough to offset the rise in prices between 2021 and 2023. "Establishments simply cannot operate profitably in the current framework," warns Anne-Geneviève Bütikofer, director of H+.

The situation is particularly critical in outpatient care, where fees no longer cover actual costs. "This results in underfunding of 20 to 25%," warns H+. Hospitals are therefore not being pushed to promote transfers to outpatient care, a process that is nevertheless targeted by the uniform financing of services (EFAS) approved by the people in November 2024 , the umbrella organization emphasizes. "There must be a financial incentive to act in this direction," demands Geneviève Bütikofer.

Faced with this impasse, H+ is calling on politicians and insurers to act. It is demanding an immediate increase of at least 5% in rates, followed by an automatic adjustment to inflation. "This is the condition for hospitals to have the means to invest in new technologies, infrastructure, and personnel, and for them to be able to promote outpatient care in order to continue to offer a cutting-edge healthcare system," the umbrella organization concludes.

Asked for a position on these demands, prio.swiss, the umbrella organization of Swiss health insurers, has not yet responded.