Switzerland enjoys the most developed public healthcare system in the world. It has highly-qualified medical experts and leading clinics and hospitals equipped with the most advanced medical technology. 2014 shows over 7 billion US dollars of healthcare expenditure in Switzerland, representing 1.7% of GDP, with an average individual expenditure of 9,700 US dollars. Switzerland has a long history of medical research. Many world leading pharmaceutical companies are founded in and remain operating till now. Not only on the side of research, but also in the area of medical staff training, Switzerland has invested a large amount of financial and human resources. The medical insurance law, the foundation of Swiss healthcare, stipulates that all Swiss residents are compulsory to buy basic medical insurance and are free to choose insurance company, which covers the medical service charges during their illness.
In order to ensure the reasonable individual medical expenditures and high-quality healthcare service, Switzerland has founded a sound healthcare system centred with compulsory medical insurance for its residents – the insurance premium come from individual payment and governmental subsidies, the decision on the prices of prescription medicines are made by involving insurance companies and government representatives, and the medical institutions compete against each other on the basis of medical technologies and services so as to be paid by the insurance companies. Such an insurance system allows Swiss residents to enjoy an all-covered, all-insured and high-quality healthcare service. In an investigation of European medical service consumer index, Switzerland is ranked the 4th place in terms of consumer satisfaction.
Switzerland enjoys a world leading position in the field of medical technology. Its medical technology industry contributes about 1.4 billion Swiss Francs per annum, representing 2.3% of GDP, far more than those in other countries in the world. As one of the world most important medical technology bases, Swiss medical technology industry has over a thousand enterprises and more than 50 thousands employees. Taking advantage of its leading position in precise technology and collaborating with first-class R&D institutions and sound insurance system, the Swiss medical technology sector achieved a product export rate of 90%. It is a highly-attractive base for medical technology research, development and production.
The UNESCO Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch is one of the most spectacular alpine landscapes, an impressive example of the alpine orogeny with a wide spectrum in the alpine and subalpine habitat. It covers 824 square kilometres almost the entire Berner High Alps with its monumental massive rocks in Canton Bern and Wallis Region. About 90% of the World Heritage area is covered by rock and ice. The World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch represents the wonderful natural beauty of the Alps.
[:en]Thanks to the high standards of environment, food and healthcare service, Switzerland is one of the countries which have the longest life expectancy. Published by the World Health Organisation in May 2016, Switzerland has the second longest life expectancy in the world with an average age of 83.4, whereas it is ranked No. 1 for male life expectancy with an average age of 81.3 and No. 6 for female life expectancy with an average age of 85.3 in the world.
According to the latest Human Development Index published by the United Nation, Switzerland is ranked at the 3rd place for best countries in the world to live. The best quality of air, earth and water ensure people’s living quality in Switzerland.