Swissmedic publishes its Annual Report for 2023

On 7 June 2024 the Federal Council ratified Swissmedic’s 2023 reporting and approved the Annual Report. In addition to performance and financial overviews, this includes information about the wide-ranging activities of the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products. Swissmedic successfully completed the first year in the new 2023–2026 strategy period.

At the end of 2022, the Federal Council approved Swissmedic’s strategic goals for 2023–2026. They include efficient, independent supervision, expansion of national and international cooperation and trust-driven communication with the public. Other focuses include supporting innovations in new therapeutic areas and the continuing development and digital transformation of the Agency. Swissmedic further consolidated its position as a reliable partner to Switzerland's healthcare sector in the year under review.

One milestone was the groundwork on the creation of the new Medical Devices Surveillance Sector, which has been managed at Management Board level since 2024. This organisational unit underlines the increased significance of medical devices and Swissmedic's ability to adapt to rapidly changing demands in the healthcare sector.

A further highlight for Swissmedic was becoming a World Health Organization (WHO)-Listed Authority. The WHO conducted a comprehensive assessment of all Sectors and gave Swissmedic a top rating. This makes Swissmedic one of the first three therapeutic products agencies worldwide to fulfil the WHO’s regulatory benchmark.

Facts and figures – and illegal medicinal products, administrative proceedings and media contacts

Under the Therapeutic Products Act, Swissmedic is endowed with its own financial resources and keeps its own accounts. 82 per cent of revenues (CHF 95 million; previous year: CHF 98 million) are derived from fees and supervisory levies. Federal government grants account for 17 per cent (CHF 20 million; previous year: CHF 19 million). This finances activities defined in the Therapeutic Products Act relating to legislation and criminal proceedings, as well as surveillance of the medical devices market.

Swissmedic also reported the following facts and figures for 2023: 12,342 applications for authorisation and variation for human and veterinary medicinal products, 6,171 administrative proceedings connected with illegal imports of medicinal products and 80 post-publication advertising inspections for authorised medicinal products, just under 6,000 enquiries from the general public, 1,125 contacts with media representatives, 580 employees (493 FTEs) and 43 per cent women in executive positions. As at the end of the year under review, a total of 5,769 human medicinal products were authorised in Switzerland and Swissmedic had 41,345 followers on its social media channels.