Healthcare costs: potential savings through adherence to treatment and medication safety

Veröffentlicht am May 9, 2026

Lesedauer: 3 min

In 2024, around 2.7 million people in Switzerland will be living with chronic diseases (NCDs: non-communicable diseases).

In 2024, healthcare costs had already reached CHF 97.1 billion. Non-communicable diseases account for 70% of total healthcare costs, which amount to CHF 68 billion per year.

Switzerland could save 20 billion Swiss francs a year through improved treatment adherence and better medication safety.

Table of Contents

Is adherence to treatment important?

Yes. Adherence to treatment is a crucial factor in the success of treatment. “The pill can only work if you take it” is not just a saying. If you follow the prescribed treatment, the effectiveness of the medication is ensured and the risk of complications and mortality is significantly reduced. On average, only 50% of patients adhere to their treatment. This figure varies greatly depending on

Extent of polypharmacy,
The nature and number of diseases and
Living conditions.

However, high adherence to treatment benefits not only the patient, but also, quite literally, the entire healthcare system. Around 11 billion Swiss francs could be saved each year if patients adhered more closely to their treatment regimens.

It is not always possible to improve treatment adherence, as many factors come into play. Life circumstances, depression, loneliness and a lack of support are just some of the challenging factors. In most cases, however, a change in behaviour is helpful, as programmes in the TOM app have shown in collaboration with various Swiss health insurance providers. Adherence programmes lasting 3 to 6 months, in which patients had to maintain adherence of over 80% and were rewarded for doing so, still maintained an adherence rate of over 90% 12 months later. Furthermore, over 70% of participants were still active on a daily basis.

This shows that even in challenging circumstances involving multiple conditions and complex medication regimens, digital tools—when used correctly—can lead to positive behavioural changes and improved adherence to treatment.

How important is medication safety?

Medication safety and the prevention of drug-related problems (DRPs) are of crucial importance, as they directly impact patient safety, prevent serious adverse effects and ensure the quality of care. Unnecessary (or potentially unnecessary) duplicate prescriptions also cost the healthcare system an unnecessary amount of money.
Medication-related problems often arise when multiple diagnoses from different doctors lead to different treatments. A lack of dialogue and poor communication on the part of the patient can then lead to problematic interactions between the prescribed medications.

This problem can be addressed either through the electronic health record (E-GD; formerly EPD) or by means of a comprehensive treatment plan that the patient can present to any doctor and which lists all medications (not only prescription (Rx) medicines, but also over-the-counter (OTC) products).

Regular reviews of the patient’s full medication regimen could help identify and resolve any medication-related issues, in consultation with the treating doctors. The MediCheck feature in the TOM app, which is offered by various insurance companies via the TOM app, provides an accessible and straightforward option that is also 100% anonymous.

Figures at a glance (Switzerland)

Healthcare costs in Switzerland in 2024: CHF 97 billion
Number of patients with chronic diseases in 2024: 2.7 million
Average treatment adherence: 50%
Average adherence in the TOM app: approx. 83%
Costs resulting from poor adherence to treatment: CHF 11 billion
Costs due to DRP (double medications and drug interactions): CHF 9 billion
Average (potential) unnecessary double medication in cases of polypharmacy: 66%
Average rate of drug interactions in patients taking multiple medications: 54%
Increase in treatment adherence following a 3–6-month adherence programme in TOM: a 76% increase
Reduction in duplicate prescriptions following MediChecks in TOM: reduced by 45%
Reduction in drug interactions following MediChecks in TOM: reduced by 57%