Health Auditors call for more transparency in imaging procedures
Ultrasound devices, computer tomographs and magnetic resonance tomographs are being used more and more frequently in medicine, and Switzerland has the highest density of such devices in Europe. The use of imaging procedures is practically not regulated in the Health Insurance Act.
28.04.2025, 23:00
SDA
This is what the Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) writes in a report published on Monday. The health insurance funds do not adequately control the use of imaging examinations. The SFAO recommends that the federal government work towards traceable information in the invoices and advocate better controls.
According to the SFAO's estimate, the costs for imaging examinations rose more sharply in percentage terms between 2019 and 2023 than the total costs for outpatient treatment paid by basic insurance. According to the SFAO, the federal government is at least in the process of collecting data on the devices and thus closing a data gap.
The SFAO is pinning its hopes on the electronic patient record (EPR): it recommends ensuring full access to radiology reports and medical images via the patient record when revising the legal basis. This should avoid duplicate and multiple examinations.
According to the SFAO, the costs of around CHF 2.1 billion for imaging procedures in 2023 account for around one sixth of all outpatient costs covered by basic insurance. According to the Swiss Medical Association (FMH), there were around 1,100 radiologists working in the country in 2023. This figure has risen by an average of 3.7% since 2017.
According to the SFAO, the fact that the number of imaging devices and their use is increasing is also due to the outdated Tarmed tariff, which allows the devices to be operated at favorable conditions. The SFAO advises that when introducing the new Tardoc tariff, care should be taken to ensure that it does not lead to an undesirable increase in imaging examinations.
