site.btaSwiss Ambassador Furrer: Prevention, Digitalization and Access Are Key to Healthcare

Prevention, digitalization and access to healthcare and services are key to the efforts for more efficient healthcare. It also needs cooperation and common action, said Swiss Ambassador here Raimund Furrer addressing an international conference entitled “Towards High Value Healthcare System in Bulgaria” in Sofia on Thursday.

The discussion is jointly organized by representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Bulgarian-Swiss Chamber of Commerce. The event was also attended by German Ambassador Irene Maria Plank and US Ambassador Kenneth Merten.

Prevention is a better strategy than treatment. Early diagnostics is important too, said the diplomat. According to him, reducing expenditures and pressure on hospitals are two immediate effects from the application of a similar approach for early protection of population. Improving the lifestyle and health culture are two instruments through which this can be achieved.

Of the second key element of modern healthcare, innovations, Ambassador Furrer said that framework agreements should be encouraged and support public and private investments.

The third element, elaborated by Ambassador Furrer, is access to healthcare and services.

“We are aware that expenditures in the sector will grow,” he said. He said that Switzerland now spends 12 of GDP on healthcare compared with 7% seven years ago.

Ambassador Furrer is convinced that improving healthcare can be achieved only through a systemic approach in which all players are involved.