
Responsible Digital Health Innovation
A Roadmap for Switzerland
What is this?
This roadmap presents governance principles and concrete actions for decision-makers to promote responsible digital health innovation in Switzerland. Governance principles are action guides; they indicate what needs to be done to achieve desirable governance goals.
The Health Ethics and Policy Lab at ETH Zurich developed the roadmap in collaboration with numerous stakeholders from the private and public sectors at the forefront of healthcare innovation in Switzerland. This inclusive approach ensures that the roadmap reflects the diverse perspectives and needs of the Swiss healthcare landscape. The collaboration was possible thanks to the support of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) (NRP77 grant N. 407740_187356).
Who is this for?
This roadmap is for policymakers and decision-makers in the digital health ecosystem. Their role is crucial in the creation of supporting conditions for the efficient and socially responsible implementation of innovative digital health technologies.
Why is this roadmap necessary?
The rapid pace of innovation in digital health, particularly with artificial intelligence (AI), presents complex challenges for our current governance models. These technologies raise multifaceted considerations regarding data privacy, cybersecurity, ethical implications, and economic impact. Moreover, predicting and managing their long-term effects is also increasingly difficult.
Core challenges of our current regulatory approach:
Regulatory uncertainty
The absence of forward-thinking guidelines or unclear or outdated regulation can stifle innovation and give rise to regulatory gaps.
Limited international collaboration
Fragmented legal systems across different countries can limit the development and adoption of digital solutions that rely on harmonised legal and technical standards.
Widening health disparities
Static regulation may not adequately address the potential for new technologies to exacerbate existing healthcare inequalities.
Workforce skills gap
The rapid evolution of digital health technologies can outpace the development of training programs for healthcare professionals, resulting in a need for a more skilled workforce for effective implementation.
What does this roadmap seek to achieve?
The governance of high-speed technological innovation requires the adoption of equally innovative governance principles. This roadmap is designed to guide decision-makers in addressing these challenges in order to:
Enable innovation
Equip Switzerland with an efficient regulatory ecosystem to enable innovation and harmonise with international regulatory standards.
Advance Swiss healthcare
Future-proof the Swiss Healthcare system by integrating and using technological innovations.
Boost Swiss economy
Remove roadblocks and legal uncertainties to facilitate domestic as well as cross-border synergies and attract investors.
Foster public trust
Ensure safe and effective technologies that will benefit patients.
Governance principles and actions



Responsible
Digital Health Innovation