Federal Council Ignores Inflation Gap in Hospital Tariffs
15.01.2026 | from H+ The Hospitals of Switzerland
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15.01.2026, In its report on postulate 24.3014, the Federal Council deems an automatic inflation adjustment in tariffs 'inappropriate,' as the law does not provide for this and believes the inflation adjustment must be addressed within negotiations between tariff partners. In doing so, it overlooks a major driver of the hospital sector's financial crisis: tariffs that lag behind inflation cement underfunding. Experience shows that tariffs negotiated with insurers neither reliably nor promptly reflect inflation. Without cost- covering and automatically inflation-adjusted tariffs, there is a risk of service reduction and a transformation backlog, especially at a time when ambulatory care and demographic changes demand significant adaptations.
Unlike other sectors, hospitals and clinics cannot freely set their prices, yet their costs rise due to personnel, energy, and material expenses. This results in a growing gap between inflation and tariffs. The PwC study on the future hospital landscape from November 2025 clearly demonstrates that tariffs lag behind inflation. Notably, between 2020 and 2024, inflation increased by 6.8%, while tariffs rose by only 2.6%. 'The Federal Council turns a blind eye to the facts in its report. The absence of a guaranteed inflation adjustment leads directly to underfunding, endangering hospital services,' explains Anne- Geneviève Bütikofer, Director of H+. Fully adjusting tariffs to inflation is simply not realistic through current tariff negotiations, as the scope of action for hospitals and clinics is very limited. It is therefore essential that Parliament agrees to the motion by Senator Damian Müller, which proposes an adjustment of tariffs to inflation.
Underfunding is quantifiable - and endangers care.
The consequences are clearly measurable: about 25% underfunding in the outpatient sector and about 10% in the inpatient sector. This complicates necessary investments, increases pressure on the already scarce skilled personnel, and raises the risk of services being reduced or locations weakened, with repercussions for patients. Switzerland needs hospitals and clinics to drive the transition to the hospital landscape of the future: more ambulatory care, new care models, and digitalization. 'Anyone who politically desires consistent ambulatory care must enable it through tariffs. Without fair tariffs adjusted to inflation, the necessary change becomes impossible,' says Anne-Geneviève Bütikofer.
H+ demands a binding and transparent indexing of tariffs to ensure cost developments do not end in blockades, procedures, and delays. This creates predictability for services and the necessary investment capability for further transformation.
Press Contact:
Anne-Geneviève Bütikofer, Director
Tel.: 031 335 11 63
E-Mail: medien@hplus.ch
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Source: H+ The Hospitals of Switzerland, Press release
Original article published on: Bundesrat verschliesst die Augen vor Teuerungslücke bei Spitaltarifen