The Boom in Slimming Injections Worries Health Insurance Companies.
Despite having lower obesity rates than other countries, Switzerland has the highest per capita use of slimming injections such as Saxenda and Wegovy. A study conducted by the University of Zurich, led by Professor Kerstin Noëlle Vokinger, found that the use of these drugs has grown significantly since 2020.
The main reason for this record is the insurance coverage offered by basic insurance in Switzerland, unlike countries such as the United States, Canada and Germany, where costs are not covered. In Switzerland, the average annual cost for a patient is about 2,000 francs, compared with $12,000 in the United States.
However, this increase in the use of weight-loss drugs is raising concerns about health care costs. Philomena Colatrella, CEO of the health insurer CSS, estimates that in 2025 expenditures on Wegovy alone will exceed 50 million francs. Health insurers fear that total costs for next year could reach several hundred million francs.
The long-term consequences of the use of these drugs and the possible cost reduction for other therapies, such as those for heart disease, are still uncertain. Meanwhile, the volume of sales of these products continues to grow, raising questions about the financial sustainability of the Swiss health care system.
