Helsana report shows: Medical services on the rise
Zürich (ots)
The "Volume Report" published today by Helsana elucidates the development of medical treatments. In Switzerland, increasing numbers of patients make use of medical treatments. As a result there is an increased need for coordination. General practitioners have less and less time to perform this role. The report finds great potential to meet these coordination needs in other health occupations.
In its latest report, Helsana investigated which medical treatments covered by basic insurance have risen steeply in the last five years. The analyses show that patients are increasingly treated by specialists and in an outpatient setting at hospitals (+ 18 percent). The number of emergency treatments in the hospitals also increased significantly - by 40 percent. Imaging techniques such as X-ray or ultrasound and lab analyses are now used more than ever. The duration and frequency of physician consultations have increased considerably in all age groups and cantons in the last five years. In light of the increase in consultations with various service providers and the rise in need for treatment, the coordination of medical services deserves a key role. General practitioners have less and less time to devote to this coordination.
More competencies for health occupations Helsana sees great potential for action in the coordination of medical services. It must be determined whether the respective competencies can be carried over to other services providers such as e.g. pharmacies, or whether new occupational groups covered by basic insurance must engage in order to manage this. The exclusivity of the monopoly of the physicians will not stand. This volume report is an expression of Helsana's commitment. Helsana would like to contribute to increase transparency in health care and to initiate a fact-based discussion.
Read more at: www.helsana.ch/volume-report
Helsana - Committed to life
The Helsana Group is Switzerland's dependable health and accident insurer, offering both individuals and enterprises a complete health and prevention service. It is not listed on the stock exchange and is organised as a holding. With over CHF 6 billion in earned premiums, the company is one of the leading providers in the Swiss insurance market with a workforce of more than 3,000 employees in Switzerland.
The Helsana Group insures over 1.9 million people in Switzerland against the financial consequences of illness, accidents, maternity and long-term care in old age. With a wide range of products and services in the areas of basic, supplementary and accident insurance, Helsana is committed to the lives of each and every one of its members.
Helsana develops insurance solutions to mitigate the economic consequences of illness or accident-related occupational absences for 44,400 companies and associations with a total of 710,000 insured members.
Contact:
For more information:
Helsana Media Office
Tel. +41 (58) 340 12 12
media.relations@helsana.ch
The media release can also be found in the Media Corner at
www.helsana.ch/en/media.