Executive Summary

Switzerland's electronic patient file project has failed after nearly 20 years of development and millions in investments. Recent developments have turned the project into an absurd comedy. The author calls on the federal government to fundamentally rethink the system on a second attempt. International examples demonstrate that functioning digital patient records are possible. Hospitals should no longer be obligated to spend millions on a non-functioning system.

People

Topics

  • Digital Healthcare
  • Electronic Patient Record
  • Swiss Health Policy
  • Investment Failures

Clarus Lead

Creating a functioning digital patient record has become a persistent problem for Swiss health policy. After two decades of development time, it is clear: the previous strategy does not work. The financial burden on hospitals is growing without patients or doctors benefiting from improved coordination. Other European countries have demonstrated that digital systems can help prevent medication errors and duplicate examinations – Switzerland must fundamentally reconsider its approach.

Detailed Summary

The electronic patient file in Switzerland is a textbook example of a failed large-scale project. Nearly two decades of work, massive financial resources, and numerous restarts have resulted in a system that does not function in practice. Recent developments in the project have pushed the situation to the point of absurdity.

The core of the problem lies in the discrepancy between idealistic aspirations and practical reality. Electronic patient records could ideally prevent serious errors – particularly medication errors due to missing or incomplete medication histories. They could avoid unnecessary duplicate examinations and improve coordination between specialties. Other countries have successfully realized precisely these benefits.

The Swiss healthcare system currently burdens hospitals with significant obligations and costs for a system that does not deliver the promised benefits. The author argues that it is unrealistic to continue forcing medical institutions to invest millions in a failed project without a functioning solution in sight.

Key Messages

  • The Swiss electronic patient file project has failed after 20 years and millions in expenditures
  • Hospitals are burdened with costs without the system functioning or providing benefits
  • International examples prove that digital patient records are technically and organizationally feasible
  • The federal government needs a fundamentally new strategy for a second attempt
  • Functioning systems could reduce medication errors and inefficient processes

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence/Data Quality: What concrete data on project expenditures, timelines, and failed implementation attempts exist to support the claim of "20 years and millions"?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: Who bears economic or political responsibility for the failure – and which stakeholders (providers, authorities, hospitals) currently have incentives to defend the status quo?

  3. Causality/Alternatives: Are the reasons for failure technical-organizational or political-regulatory in nature? Would other governance models (public-private partnership, decentralized system, federalism) have led to better results?

  4. Feasibility/Risks: Which concrete systems in other countries are cited as models, and are their framework conditions (size, federalism, data protection, hospital landscape) transferable to Switzerland?

  5. Cost Transparency: How are the millions distributed across development, operations, and failed attempts, and how do they compare to international comparable projects?

  6. Patient Benefit: What measurable improvements (error reduction, time, safety) are demonstrated in functioning systems, and can these be extrapolated to Swiss conditions?

Reference List

Primary Source: Hudec, Jan. "The electronic patient file is dead. Hospitals must no longer be obligated to spend millions on it" – Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), 02.07.2026
https://www.nzz.ch/meinung/das-elektronische-patientendossier-ist-tot-spitaeler-duerfen-nicht-laenger-verpflichtet-werden-millionen-dafuer-zu-zahlen-ld.10013720

Verification Status: ✓ 02.07.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model.
Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 02.07.2026