Navigating Swiss Market Access #medtech #digitalhealth

In this episode, co-hosts Gurmit and Angelina speak with Dr. Christine Jacob, Digital Strategist, Health Tech Researcher, Lecturer at FHNW, and internationally recognised expert in technology adoption in healthcare. With over 20 years of industry experience exploring how social, organisational and technical factors shape the acceptance of digital health tools, Christine brings a unique, science-based perspective on how innovation truly lands in healthcare.Our conversation explores the second half of the reimbursement journey: Adoption. While previous episodes focused on the Assessment phase, such as evaluating digital health technologies through tools like Gurmit’s Value Assessment Dashboard (VAD), this episode turns to what happens after assessment — ensuring technologies are actually understood, accepted, and implemented in real-world care settings.Together, we unpack:·         The core “pain points” slowing adoption of digital health solutions today·         The benefits that would emerge if these adoption barriers disappeared·         Christine’s latest research: The AI for IMPACTS Framework – Why she developed it – How it helps organisations navigate responsible, user-centered AI adoption – Where it can be applied across Swiss healthcare settings·         How this framework complements existing assessment tools — and where it can support better, evidence-based decision-making for Swiss market accessWe also reflect on how the Swiss healthcare system can better integrate digital technologies, from hospitals and insurers to patients and clinicians — and how structured adoption frameworks can support more confident, transparent, and scalable digital innovation.As always, opinions expressed are those of our guest. For more information, listeners are encouraged to consult official sources and Christine’s recent publication on the AI for IMPACTS Framework.Sources: Jacob C, Brasier N, Laurenzi E, Heuss S, Mougiakakou S, Cöltekin A, Peter MAI for IMPACTS Framework for Evaluating the Long-Term Real-World Impacts of AI-Powered Clinician Tools: Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis. J Med Internet Res 2025;27:e67485 URL: https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e67485 DOI: 10.2196/67485 GET IN TOUCH: Feedback? We’re listening. Send us a message on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/gurmitsandhu | https://linkedin.com/in/angelina-rau Share your experience, feedback, “pain points” or success with market access & reimbursement of digital health technology #medtech #meddevice : on the comments section below or DM us on LinkedIn Do you know someone who would be a great guest for us to interview? Let us know via LinkedIn | Topics that you want us to focus on. Drop us a comment below! What to Read: Reimbursement guide on digital health applications within the Swiss healthcare system | Created in collaboration with experts in insurance, law, pharma, and industry including Angelina Rau | Free access, in Eng & De =>https://swisshealthcarestartups.com/en/reimbursement-guide Kohler, Stefan / Rau, Angelina, Vergütung digitaler Gesundheitsanwendungen in der Schweiz, Life Sciences Recht Stämpfli, LSR 1/2023, S. 13-22, Januar 2023 Sandhu G, Mohamed Ghazali IM, Laurenzi E, Miho E. PP22 A Dashboard To Support The Value Assessment Of Digital Health Technologies For H...

In this episode (in Swiss German), host Angelina Rau sits down with Barbara Meier, attorney at law at VISCHER AG and expert in tariff and healthcare law, to unpack one of the most complex yet crucial topics for digital health innovators in Switzerland — reimbursement and tariffs.They discuss how Digital Health Applications (DiGAs) — software-based medical devices such as health apps or digital therapeutics — gain access to the Swiss healthcare system. Even when approved and recognized under compulsory health insurance (OKP), a DiGA can only be reimbursed if it fits into an appropriate reimbursement and tariff structure.Barbara explains Switzerland’s three main reimbursement “categories”:Hospitals, inpatient and outpatient tariffs (like TARMED and the upcoming TARDOC) for services delivered by healthcare professionals,and the MiGeL list, covering DiGAs provided directly to patients.Together, they explore how upcoming reforms, such as TARDOC, aim to modernize reimbursement for telemedicine and digital care — and why early collaboration between manufacturers and healthcare providers is essential for success.Whether you’re a startup founder, digital health manufacturer, or health policy professional, this episode offers clear insights on how to navigate tariff systems, secure reimbursement, and bring innovation into the Swiss healthcare landscape.GET IN TOUCH: Feedback? We’re listening. Send us a message on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/gurmitsandhu | https://linkedin.com/in/angelina-rau Share your experience, feedback, “pain points” or success with market access & reimbursement of digital health technology #medtech #meddevice : on the comments section below or DM us on LinkedIn Do you know someone who would be a great guest for us to interview? Let us know via LinkedIn | Topics that you want us to focus on. Drop us a comment below! What to Read: Reimbursement guide on digital health applications within the Swiss healthcare system | Created in collaboration with experts in insurance, law, pharma, and industry including Angelina Rau | Free access, in Eng & De =>https://swisshealthcarestartups.com/en/reimbursement-guide Kohler, Stefan / Rau, Angelina, Vergütung digitaler Gesundheitsanwendungen in der Schweiz, Life Sciences Recht Stämpfli, LSR 1/2023, S. 13-22, Januar 2023 Sandhu G, Mohamed Ghazali IM, Laurenzi E, Miho E. PP22 A Dashboard To Support The Value Assessment Of Digital Health Technologies For H...

Are you a Switzerland-based stakeholder interested in the market access assessment of digital health technologies for the Swiss market? We value your input on how digital health technologies (DHTs) are currently assessed for market access (leading to reimbursement) in Switzerland — particularly by those without deep regulatory expertise. Two webinars will be held in October 2025 to provide context for completing the survey and introduce the key themes behind our research. You can still complete this survey even if you don't attend a webinar. Later in 2026, we will be sharing the results of our study. Survey link in English: https://forms.gle/7KxkNgsvQidWQkEy5Link zur Umfrage auf Deutsch: https://forms.gle/bcChDitFKWddX2BK8 Join the webinar (optional) without registration. In English & Deutsch :Thursday 16th Oct 2025, 12 - 12.30 pm:  https://fhnw.zoom.us/j/66432766035  Monday 27th Oct 2025, 12 - 12.30 pm:  https://fhnw.zoom.us/j/66859461413 End of Survey: 31st Oct 2025Vielen Dank, dass Sie sich die Zeit nehmen, uns Ihre Meinung zu unserer Gap-Analyse-Studie zu den Schweizer Kriterien für Wirksamkeit, Zweckmässigkeit und Wirtschaftlichkeit (WZW-Kriterien) im Vergleich zu den neueren Nutzenbewertungstools für digitale Gesundheitstechnologien mitzuteilen. Beispiele hierfür sind die Deutsche Digitale Gesundheits-Anwendung (DIGA) und das Value Assessment Dashboard (VAD). Im Allgemeinen werden diese Kriterien von Behörden für Health Technology Assessments (HTA) während der Marktzugangsphase des Lebenszyklus einer Gesundheitstechnologie verwendet. Die nachfolgende Phase ist in der Regel die Erstattungsphase. Ihr Feedback hilft uns dabei, Perspektiven aufzuzeigen, die oft nicht öffentlich zugänglich sind oder nicht erfasst werden. Es handelt sich um eine selbst finanzierte Studie für Schweizer Interessengruppen (Einwohner*innen und Bürger*innen), die sich für die Bewertung digitaler Gesundheitstechnologien für den Schweizer Markt interessieren. Wir planen, eine Zusammenfassung unserer Arbeit zu veröffentlichen. Details zur Umfrage siehe oben. Abgesehen von Ihrer E-Mail-Adresse erfassen wir keine weiteren personenbezogenen Daten.GET IN TOUCH: Feedback? We’re listening. Send us a message on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/gurmitsandhu | https://linkedin.com/in/angelina-rau Share your experience, feedback, “pain points” or success with market access & reimbursement of digital health technology #medtech #meddevice : on the comments section below or DM us on LinkedIn Do you know someone who would be a great guest for us to interview? Let us know via LinkedIn | Topics that you want us to focus on. Drop us a comment below! What to Read: Reimbursement guide on digital health applications within the Swiss healthcare system | Created in collaboration with experts in insurance, law, pharma, and industry including Angelina Rau | Free access, in Eng & De =>https://swisshealthcarestartups.com/en/reimbursement-guide Kohler, Stefan / Rau, Angelina, Vergütung digitaler Gesundheitsanwendungen in der Schweiz, Life Sciences Recht Stämpfli, LSR 1/2023, S. 13-22, Januar 2023 Sandhu G, Mohamed Ghazali IM, Laurenzi E, Miho E. PP22 A Dashboard To Support The Value Assessment Of Digital Health Technologies For H...

Jennifer Woods, Swiss Patient Leader and PPI partner, shares how Switzerland can strengthen patient access to digital health technologies: from usability and patient-reported outcomes/experience measures (PROMs & PREMs) to data privacy & security, value-based care, and the daily burden of illness. Beyond highlighting the gaps, she points to solutions — such as integrating patient voices earlier and systematically in HTA processes and aligning market access with real-world patient needs.Jennifer is a Patient Partner for the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences’ Coordination Platform for Clinical Research (CPCR) and the National Data Stream (NDS) LUCID. She is also an EUPATI Patient Expert and Carney Complex Advocate.👉 Swiss German summary at the end.PPI Patient & Public Involvement https://www.samw.ch/en.html https://sphn.ch/network/projects/project-page_nds_lucid/ GET IN TOUCH: Feedback? We’re listening. Send us a message on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/gurmitsandhu | https://linkedin.com/in/angelina-rau Share your experience, feedback, “pain points” or success with market access & reimbursement of digital health technology #medtech #meddevice : on the comments section below or DM us on LinkedIn Do you know someone who would be a great guest for us to interview? Let us know via LinkedIn | Topics that you want us to focus on. Drop us a comment below! What to Read: Reimbursement guide on digital health applications within the Swiss healthcare system | Created in collaboration with experts in insurance, law, pharma, and industry including Angelina Rau | Free access, in Eng & De =>https://swisshealthcarestartups.com/en/reimbursement-guide Kohler, Stefan / Rau, Angelina, Vergütung digitaler Gesundheitsanwendungen in der Schweiz, Life Sciences Recht Stämpfli, LSR 1/2023, S. 13-22, Januar 2023 Sandhu G, Mohamed Ghazali IM, Laurenzi E, Miho E. PP22 A Dashboard To Support The Value Assessment Of Digital Health Technologies For H...

Rosa, Head of HTA at AQuAS (Barcelona), talks about her experience with developing fit-for-purpose assessment frameworks for digital health technologies. She shares how the Spanish HTA network, RedETS, follows a grassroots approach — identifying common needs and building methods that truly capture the value of these innovations. Rosa reflects on how this experience can support better decisions around market access and reimbursement. We also discuss what Switzerland can learn from this approach, offering practical insights for digital health developers and health policy decision-makers.  Recaps in Swiss German & Spanish.  aquas.gencat.cat     | switch to English on their websiteSegur-Ferrer et al. New health technology assessment framework for digital health technologies 2025 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266462324001090 GET IN TOUCH: Feedback? We’re listening. Send us a message on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/gurmitsandhu | https://linkedin.com/in/angelina-rau Share your experience, feedback, “pain points” or success with market access & reimbursement of digital health technology #medtech #meddevice : on the comments section below or DM us on LinkedIn Do you know someone who would be a great guest for us to interview? Let us know via LinkedIn | Topics that you want us to focus on. Drop us a comment below! What to Read: Reimbursement guide on digital health applications within the Swiss healthcare system | Created in collaboration with experts in insurance, law, pharma, and industry including Angelina Rau | Free access, in Eng & De =>https://swisshealthcarestartups.com/en/reimbursement-guide Kohler, Stefan / Rau, Angelina, Vergütung digitaler Gesundheitsanwendungen in der Schweiz, Life Sciences Recht Stämpfli, LSR 1/2023, S. 13-22, Januar 2023 Sandhu G, Mohamed Ghazali IM, Laurenzi E, Miho E. PP22 A Dashboard To Support The Value Assessment Of Digital Health Technologies For H...