Key Takeaways from the Life Sciences & Healthcare Breakfast in Zurich
November, 2025
Pedersen & Partners and CMS Switzerland co-hosted the Life Sciences & Healthcare Breakfast in Zurich.
The event brought together Senior Executives and thought leaders from Switzerland’s healthcare and life sciences sectors for an engaging discussion and networking session on the evolving challenges and opportunities in the national healthcare system.
The panel discussion was moderated by Thomas Markwirth, Country Manager Switzerland at Pedersen & Partners, and Christoph Willi, Partner, CMS von Erlach Partners.
It was a great pleasure for us to bring together and welcome so many outstanding Executives. So much concentrated expertise in one room.
Many thanks once again to our panelists:
- Daniel Liedtke – CEO Hirslanden Group and designated chairman Helsana
- Milo Puhan – Professor for Public Health & Epidemology at University Zurich
- Charlotte Werthemann – Board Member of ÖKK, Head of External Affairs at Basel University Hospital
- Gregor Zünd – Former CEO of Zurich University Hospital
Thomas Markwirth, Country Manager Switzerland at Pedersen & Partners, shared:
“The topic ‘The healthcare system is sick – Does Switzerland need a radical rethink?’ was provocatively chosen. This made the subsequent discussion all the more exciting. However, what I enjoyed most was seeing our clients and our network connect with each other and make valuable contacts. Connecting the right people. That's what Pedersen & Partners stands for.”
Key Takeaways from the event:
- Premium increases result from rising healthcare costs, driven mainly by high hospital staff expenses and medical progress. Ultimately, these reflect society’s values—the better off it is, the higher its healthcare expectations.
- Premium increases trigger political interventions, often limited in scope and, given the healthcare system’s complexity, unable to achieve desired results.
- Greater flexibility is desired in supplementary insurance (VVG) to test new therapies, treatments, and innovations before they become mandatory under basic insurance (OKP).
- The same applies to prevention. These services could increasingly be reimbursed through supplementary insurance as well.
- There is a call for the collection of data to assess the quality of medical services. Healthcare providers should also be evaluated according to qualitative criteria. Political decisions should be based on qualitative data. This requires an independent quality institute that develops the basis for relevant recommendations—similar to Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology.
- Patients and insurers should be more involved, including in alternative insurance models. By limiting their freedom of choice, patients could benefit from more affordable medical care.
We thank all who attended and contributed to an engaging and thought-provoking morning.