What’s behind Switzerland’s push for drug-pricing secrecy?

In a bid to lower healthcare costs, the Swiss parliament is considering measures on drug pricing that are drawing the ire of some health experts. What’s behind the measures and why are they stirring controversy? Last week the Swiss senate voted in favour of a sweeping package of measures to stem spiralling healthcare costs. Among them is a series of proposals intended to lower drug prices and improve access to new, high-priced treatments. Do you want to read our weekly top stories? Subscribe here. The federal government and the other chamber of parliament still have to weigh in on the latest version of the cost-containment package, but public health and legal experts are already sounding the alarm on specific drug-pricing proposals. They warn that some measures won’t just fail to rein in costs but could lead to higher drug prices in the long term and have consequences for drug prices globally. What’s behind the debate? An explainer. What is being proposed on drug prices? One ...