Switzerland reforms Electronic Patient Dossier system

Switzerland is moving forward with a major reform of its Electronic Patient Dossier (EPD) system to address slow implementation and low participation rates. The Swiss National Council has approved a new law for the EPD with a vote of 134 to 53, despite opposition from the Swiss People's Party (SVP) regarding costs and technical maturity.

Key changes include making the dossier mandatory for all healthcare providers billing through compulsory health insurance. For the general population, the system will transition to an ‘opt-out’ model, where dossiers are automatically created unless residents explicitly object. The Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) indicates that the new system is expected to be operational no earlier than 2030.

In addition to the EPD, the government is planning the Swiss Health Data Space (Swiss HDS). This complementary project aims to create a secure infrastructure for the standardized exchange of structured health data among providers, authorities, and insurers. The two projects are intended to be developed in close coordination to ensure efficient data use for treatment and billing.