Swiss patients are impacted by US drug pricing policy, and Zurich’s housing shortage is showing modest signs of easing — these are among the news that The Local reported this week. You can catch up on on everything in this weekly roundup.
Swiss patients are impacted by US drug pricing policy
Switzerland’s unwillingness to align with US President Donald Trump’s ‘Most-Favored-Nation (MFN)’ model means that patients here are deprived of the latest treatments that could save their lives.
“As a result, they do not have access to around a third of all newly developed, innovative medicines through compulsory health insurance.
Further, pharmaceutical companies are already delaying or foregoing the launch of new therapies in Switzerland to avoid jeopardising their prices in the US.
READ MORE: How Trump’s drug price policy deprives Swiss patients of life-saving treatments
Zurich’s housing shortage is showing modest signs of easing
A real estate study carried out by the Zurich Cantonal Bank (ZKB) indicates that the city’s chronic shortage of residential housing “is easing somewhat.”
Driven by more construction projects and lower immigration, there are now more vacant apartments available than there were a year ago, even if the vacancy rate has risen only marginally – from 0.48 to 0.52 percent.
In all, ZKB experts expect that 8,500 new apartments in the canton of Zurich by the end of the year, and 9,000 in 2027.
READ MORE: Why finding an apartment to rent in Zurich should be getting easier
Switzerland plans to install traffic lights on motorway access roads
To relieve congestion on the country’s highways, the Federal Roads Office is currently examining the installation of 120 traffic lights at the country’s busiest locations to regulate motorway-bound traffic in a staggered manner.
Under this system, vehicles would queue up, and the green light would allow a certain number of them to enter the motorway, while others would await their turn at the red light.
READ MORE: How Switzerland plans to tackle motorway traffic jams
More foreigners will study at Swiss universities in the future, driving up tuition fees
Universities in Switzerland will experience sharp growth, partly driven by students from abroad.
The student body as a whole is expected to rise by 21 percent between 2026 and 2035, exceeding the 300,000-mark at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels.
The number of foreign students is projected to grow by 19 percent in bachelor’s programmes and by 37 percent at the master’s level.
READ MORE: Will huge rise in number of foreign students at Swiss universities mean higher fees?
Swiss to vote on pension, taxes, and more in November
In this year’s final round of national referendums on November 29th, Swiss voters will have their say on four controversial issues.
They will weigh in on financing of the 13th pension through a higher Value-Added Tax; a proposal to limit private firework displays; individual taxation of married people (once more) as well as an amendment to the existing legislation, which would allow Switzerland to sell its weapons and other military equipment abroad.
READ MORE: What’s at stake in Switzerland’s November referendums?
Faced with supply problems, Zürich airport doesn’t have enough fuel
Significant cancellations and delays in rail freight – particularly on access lines from Germany – are hindering the supply of jet fuel to Zurich airport,
To allow its operations to continue, the Swiss government released a limited amount of fuel from its mandatory reserves.
Up to 30,000 cubic metres can be withdrawn from the stockpile for a limited time, between October 15th and November 1st, 2026,
READ MORE: Why is Zurich airport running out of fuel
