Executive Summary

The Federal Quality Commission (FQC) is launching three projects to harmonize patient surveys with the goal of sustainably improving the quality of care in the Swiss healthcare system. Starting March 2026, a publicly accessible quality dashboard will be introduced initially for nursing homes and later for other healthcare sectors. This initiative marks a significant step toward greater transparency and patient orientation in the healthcare system.

Critical Guiding Questions

  1. How might standardized quality measurements change the balance between medical expertise and patient autonomy?
  2. What impact will increased transparency have on competition between healthcare facilities and cost efficiency?
  3. How can it be ensured that the collected data does not lead to mere optimization of metrics but actually improves treatment quality?

Future Perspectives

Short-term (1 year):
Healthcare facilities will need to adapt their internal processes to implement standardized survey methods. Initial results from nursing homes could lead to increased public interest and discussions about quality differences.

Medium-term (5 years):
The system is likely to expand to other areas of healthcare. Patients will increasingly make treatment decisions based on available quality data, creating competitive pressure on lower-performing facilities.

Long-term (10-20 years):
Consistent quality measurement could lead to a profound transformation of healthcare, with stronger patient orientation and higher cost efficiency. International harmonization of quality standards that simplify cross-border treatments is also possible.

Main Summary

Core Topic & Context

The FQC is launching a comprehensive program to harmonize patient surveys on treatment outcomes. This is happening against the background of a growing need for transparency and comparability in healthcare.

Key Facts & Figures

  • Three new projects to harmonize patient surveys (PROMs) in orthopedics, cardiology, and rheumatology
  • Planned launch of a national quality dashboard in March 2026
  • First phase includes quality measurements from nursing homes in Switzerland
  • Gradual expansion to all areas of healthcare planned

Stakeholders & Affected Parties

  • Patients receive more transparency and decision-making aids
  • Healthcare facilities must adapt to standardized measurements
  • Healthcare providers become comparable and can learn from each other
  • Payers receive a data basis for quality-oriented reimbursement models

Opportunities & Risks

Opportunities:

  • Improved treatment quality through systematic learning
  • Stronger patient orientation in the healthcare system
  • More efficient resource allocation by focusing on effective treatments

Risks:

  • Potential misinterpretation of quality data by laypeople
  • Additional administrative burden for healthcare providers
  • Possible refusal to treat complex cases to avoid poor statistics

Action Relevance

Healthcare facilities should prepare early for the upcoming quality measurements and adapt their internal processes accordingly. Active participation in the pilot projects could create competitive advantages and offer the opportunity to help shape the system.

References

Primary source:
Press release of the Federal Quality Commission – www.eqk.admin.ch

Verification status: ✅ Facts based on press release of 25.11.2025