Patricia von Falkenstein, Member of the National Council

Is Swiss politics doing enough to strengthen the pharmaceutical sector?

Pharmaceutical companies are coming under pressure due to changes in US policies on export possibilities. These developments – effectively concessions to the United States – are putting Switzerland’s pharmaceutical base at risk. To safeguard jobs in the sector and its supplier industries, Switzerland must improve its domestic framework conditions.

Swiss pharmaceutical companies are the country’s export champions. Major pharma sites are located in more than half of all cantons. Issues concerning the Swiss pharmaceutical industry therefore extend far beyond Basel-Stadt or the Basel region. The significance of the sector for its host cantons, for suppliers and for employees is substantial. The industry plays a key role not only economically, but also in terms of research. Its contributions lead to new and improved therapies and inspire Switzerland’s universities.

For experts and insiders, this introduction may appear obvious. Unfortunately, political action so far has not reflected these realities. The principle of “building on strengths” may apply in other sectors, but far too little in the case of the pharmaceutical industry. For example, the Federal Council has still not created the conditions required to provide anonymised patient data to research-based industry, despite parliamentary initiatives dating back nearly ten years. The Federal Office of Public Health, the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs all need to engage in close cooperation to improve framework conditions for the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector.

It should no longer be the case that large pharmaceutical companies are contacted by the Federal Council only when it is once again about reducing medicine prices. Those in government responsible for the Swiss economy, research and the healthcare system must maintain close dialogue with this sector and remain informed about its current situation.

What is needed? In May 2025, I submitted a motion calling on the Federal Council to develop and implement a Pharma and Life Sciences Strategy. In June 2025, Councillor Herzog submitted a similar motion, which has already been adopted by the Council of States. Such a strategy must be developed jointly with the affected companies, research institutions and industry associations. All relevant federal bodies must be involved. The goal must be to rapidly improve the framework conditions to ensure legal certainty and predictability for these system-critical companies.

It is clear that international location competition is intensifying. It is therefore difficult to understand why the Federal Office of Public Health has discontinued the Biomedical Research Masterplan – a platform that enabled efficient exchange among all key stakeholders. The Federal Council’s responses to my May 2025 interpellation “Framework conditions for the life sciences and pharmaceutical industry” were insufficient. Extraordinary situations require extraordinary measures – so it is time for action, Federal Council.