Two quality contracts submitted for the areas of medical practices and nutritional advice
The Association of Swiss Health Insurers prio.swiss, the Swiss Medical Association FMH and the Swiss Association of Dietitians SVDE have submitted the first two nationwide quality contracts in the outpatient sector to the Federal Council.
In terms of "strengthening quality and efficiency", Art. 58a of the Health Insurance Act (KVG) requires the conclusion of nationwide contracts on quality development. These contracts are concluded between the associations of service providers and the health insurers. While the first such quality contract was concluded between H+, curafutura and santésuisse in 2024, two more were submitted to the Federal Council for approval on September 11, 2025. The first quality contract, between prio.swiss and the FMH, concerns medical practices. The second quality contract, between prio.swiss and the SVDE, concerns nutritional advice.
The quality agreements currently submitted to the Federal Council are the result of intensive and constructive negotiations between prio.swiss and the FMH on the one hand, and between prio.swiss and the SVDE on the other. They lay down binding cooperation for systematic and sustainable quality development in outpatient healthcare. This means that patients benefit from effective improvement measures.
The focus is on promoting a culture of quality and learning. The quality contracts contribute to safe, evidence-based and patient-centered treatment and provide for specific quality improvement measures. For example, the quality contract for the medical outpatient sector provides for a safe surgery checklist and quality circles. The quality contract for freelance nutritional advice focuses on measuring patient satisfaction. Quality is the result of continuous further development. For this reason, implementation is regularly reviewed by the contractual partners and adjusted if necessary.
FMH President Yvonne Gilli emphasizes: "This agreement is a milestone for medical quality work. It combines the perspectives of the medical profession and insurers and puts patient benefit at the forefront." prio.swiss President Felix Gutzwiller adds: "With this agreement, we are creating a reliable framework for reconciling quality and cost-effectiveness. This not only strengthens the healthcare system, but above all the trust of the population." SVDE Vice President Manuela Deiss agrees: "The contracts now in place will meet the different needs of patients. This ensures that quality development can have an optimal effect."
Source and further information: www.fmh.ch/saqm, https://prio.swiss, https://svde-asdd.ch
