Important step for digitalisation in healthcare

In the view of scienceindustries, the Federal Council's decision to further develop the electronic patient file is an important step in advancing digitalisation in the healthcare sector. The centralisation of the technical infrastructure, the clear regulation of responsibilities and the broad introduction of the EPD create the conditions for more efficient, secure and innovation-friendly healthcare in Switzerland.

Digitalisation offers enormous potential

Digitalisation is a key driver of innovation and increased efficiency in healthcare. The chemical-pharmaceutical industry, which contributes significantly to the development of new therapies and technologies, depends on the smooth and secure exchange of data. The EPR offers great potential here for improving medical care and increasing patient safety while at the same time reducing the administrative burden.

The decision of the Federal Council to further develop the EPR by means of a comprehensive revision of the law is welcomed by scienceindustries. In particular, the planned centralisation of the technical infrastructure by the Federal Government is an important step. The existing decentralised structures have proved to be too complex and inefficient, which has impeded the comprehensive use of the EPD. A central platform can not only improve interoperability between the players but also enhance data security and facilitate the implementation of innovative technologies.

Clear responsibilities necessary

From the point of view of scienceindustries, the planned division of responsibilities between the federal government, the cantons and the core communities is a positive step towards improving efficiency. The chemical-pharmaceutical industry relies on a functioning and transparent system to exchange highly sensitive data securely and efficiently. The clear distribution of responsibilities will help to reduce complexity and increase security when handling health data.

The decision to provide the technical infrastructure of the EPR centrally through the federal government will enable faster further development and adaptation to new technologies. A standardised technical platform makes it easier to integrate new digital applications, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, into medical care.

Opt-out approach ensures freedom of choice

The introduction of electronic health records for all residents of Switzerland with compulsory health or military insurance is an important step towards greater transparency and patient participation. The opt-out approach, in which each person has the opportunity to object to the opening of an EPR, ensures that individual freedom of choice is maintained while promoting widespread use of the system.

For industry, in particular pharmaceutical and biotech companies, this opens up new possibilities for intensifying collaboration between patients, healthcare providers and researchers. The availability of comprehensive and well-structured patient data can accelerate research, make clinical studies more efficient and improve the development of new treatments.

Addressing long-term challenges

Although scienceindustries supports the Federal Council's decision, there are still challenges that need to be addressed. One key challenge is to ensure the long-term financial viability of the EPR system. The operating costs for the new central platform are to be passed on to the core communities in the form of usage fees. Care must be taken here to ensure that the financial burden is not too high and that the further development of the EPR is not hindered.

In addition, scienceindustries demands that the further development of the EPD be based on scientifically sound principles. The chemical-pharmaceutical industry, which is a global leader in research and development, attaches great importance to innovative digital technologies and new applications being integrated into the EPD in an evidence-based manner and with clearly defined standards.