The costs of providing health services will continue to increase in the coming years. At the same time large differences between countries, cantons and regions become apparent.
There will be a great change in the spectrum of illnesses in Switzerland. Above all, as a result of the ageing of the population, there will be a marked increase in the frequency of chronic pathologies. Consequently, the need for health care will also change.
Meeting the need for qualified professionals is a key challenge for the Swiss health system. Health personnel data are of central importance for the long-term planning and management of human resources.
The number of psychiatric in-patient and out-patient treatments in Switzerland has continued to increase for some years. Nevertheless, there are people, in particular the socially disadvantaged, whose mental problems are not being treated.
To improve the health of the population in the long term, health promotion and prevention is being reinforced as a pillar of health care, since prevention is better than cure.
Health reports analyse and describe the health status and health care overall and for specific groups within the population. The reports provide information to policy makers, research, players in the health care system, and interested members of the general public.
