Pharmacy Fees Switzerland 2026: the new LOA V

Since 1 January 2026, Swiss pharmacies invoice differently. The old single Medikamentencheck has been replaced by four differentiated positions, and the former Bezugscheck is now called Sicherheitscheck Patient. The new tariff is called LOA V in German and RBP V in French and Italian. Same contract, two names depending on the language region.

The Federal Council approved the contract on 29 October 2025, and it remains valid until 31 December 2028. It was deliberately calibrated as cost-neutral, so you don't pay more for standard services than before. What you do get is a more readable receipt.

Below is the actual tariff structure (with publicly sourced values), a guide to reading your pharmacy receipt, three concrete savings levers, and an FAQ.

What is LOA V (RBP V)?

LOA V stands for "Leistungsorientierte Abgeltung, version 5" (the German name). The same tariff agreement is called RBP V in French and Italian (Rémunération/Remunerazione Basée sur les Prestations). It governs what Swiss pharmacists can charge your health insurer for professional services: prescription verification, medication dispensing, counselling, emergency service.

The signatory parties:

• pharmaSuisse, the Swiss Pharmacists' Association
• prio.swiss, the association of Swiss health insurers
• HSK and CSS as tariff communities on the insurer side

Primary source: Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) press release, 29 October 2025 and the pharmaSuisse LOA V page.

What changes versus LOA IV

The previous LOA IV (in force until end 2025) used a single flat-rate Medikamentencheck per prescription line. LOA V replaces it with four differentiated tariff positions, depending on:

• Medication category: A (prescription-only) or B (certain dispensed OTC with documentation)
• Type of dispensing: first dispensing (medication new for the patient) or repeat dispensing (ongoing therapy)

The reasoning is straightforward. A first dispensing requires more pharmaceutical verification and counselling than a simple repeat. Charging the same amount for both did not match the actual workload. LOA V puts the value where the work is.

The agreement is explicitly cost-neutral by design. The total volume insurers pay to pharmacies stays unchanged. Only the internal distribution shifts, which is why your receipt now looks more granular.

LOA V tariffs 2026 in detail

The values below come from the pharmaSuisse contract and from public pharmacy tariff overviews. For the Sicherheitscheck Medikament (replacing the old Medikamentencheck):

Sources: LOA V/RBP V tariff contract (pharmaSuisse), public 2026 pharmacy tariff overviews. Values for the Polymedikationscheck and other special services are in the full contract on pharmasuisse.org.

A key detail: the Sicherheitscheck Patient replaces the old Bezugscheck and is billed once per pharmacy, per day and per prescribing doctor, regardless of how many prescription lines you collect that day. If you pick up five medications prescribed by the same doctor at the same pharmacy in one visit, the Sicherheitscheck Patient appears only once on the receipt.

Covered by KVG/LAMal basic insurance

LOA V tariffs are part of mandatory basic insurance (KVG/LAMal). You pay your annual deductible ("Franchise", from CHF 300 to CHF 2'500) and a 10% coinsurance ("Selbstbehalt") on costs above the deductible (capped at CHF 700 per year, CHF 350 for children). The insurer covers the rest.

If you fill many prescriptions yearly, a lower deductible may pay off. If you stay healthy, a higher deductible reduces your monthly premium. A more detailed comparison is in our Swiss health insurance premiums 2026 article.

Reading your pharmacy receipt

When you fill a prescription, the receipt lists several positions, not just the medication price. That's normal, and since LOA V it's more transparent.

Sample receipt with LOA V

Suppose your GP prescribes a new antihypertensive (Category A, first dispensing) and you visited the pharmacy only once that day. The receipt looks roughly like this:

The medication price is illustrative and varies by product and pack size. The tariff positions correspond to actual LOA V values.

Three realistic ways to lower the bill

No miracle promises. Three documented levers.

1. Choose generics or biosimilars

Generics contain the same active ingredient as the brand original, are approved by Swissmedic, and must demonstrate equivalent clinical effect. According to the FOPH FAQ on medication prices, they cost on average 20–50% less.

If your insurer applies the differentiated coinsurance, choosing the brand original instead of an equivalent generic can cost you up to 40% coinsurance instead of the standard 10%. On year-long therapies (PPIs for reflux, statins, etc.) the difference adds up clearly.

Ask your pharmacist about an equivalent generic. Unless the doctor has marked "sic" on the prescription, the pharmacist may substitute.

2. Polymedication review

If you take four or more active substances continuously, you qualify for a Polymedikationscheck. It's an in-depth pharmaceutical review by appointment: interactions, duplications, unnecessary dosages, possible adjustments. It reduces side effects and sometimes shortens the medication list.

3. Compare your health insurer

Mandatory basic insurance premiums rose +4.4% on average in 2026 according to the FDHA/FOPH announcement of September 2025 (average monthly premium CHF 393.30, FOPH source). Differences across cantons and insurers are significant, and a deductible mismatched to your profile costs hundreds of francs a year.

If you fill many prescriptions a year, also look at the insurance model (family doctor, telmed, HMO) and the deductible level. These two levers move the needle more than the 4.4% average premium hike.

FAQ, Pharmacy fees 2026

Are LOA V and RBP V the same?

Yes. LOA V is the German name (Leistungsorientierte Abgeltung, version 5). RBP V is the French and Italian name (Rémunération/Remunerazione Basée sur les Prestations). Same contract, same tariffs, in force from 1 January 2026.

Does basic insurance cover LOA V tariffs?

Yes. LOA V tariffs are part of mandatory basic insurance (KVG/LAMal). You pay only the deductible and 10% coinsurance (capped at CHF 700 per year). The insurer covers the rest.

Can I refuse the Sicherheitscheck to pay less?

No. The Sicherheitscheck Medikament is a mandatory pharmaceutical safety service: the pharmacist must verify the prescription. You can decline an in-depth optional consultation, but the prescription check remains.

Are the tariffs the same in every Swiss pharmacy?

Yes for the LOA V contract positions. All contracted pharmacies use the same codes. Differences may apply on non-SL medications and on freely sold OTC products.

What is the Polymedikationscheck?

An in-depth pharmaceutical analysis for patients on four or more long-term active substances, by appointment in the pharmacy. Specific values and eligibility criteria are in the full LOA V contract.

Do OTC prices change with LOA V?

No. Freely sold OTC products without a prescription are not covered by LOA V. Their prices remain free. The agreement only concerns benefits reimbursed by mandatory insurance.

Where can I find the full LOA V contract?

On pharmaSuisse, in the LOA V tariff contracts section. The full contract is the binding reference for all contracted pharmacies.

In summary

Since 1 January 2026, Swiss pharmacies bill under the new LOA V (RBP V in French and Italian). The single Medikamentencheck has been replaced by four positions differentiated by category and dispensing type. The former Bezugscheck is now the Sicherheitscheck Patient. The contract is cost-neutral, so total spending doesn't change. Your receipt does become more readable.

Three concrete levers to reduce the bill: pick equivalent generics where possible, consider a Polymedikationscheck if you're on multiple drugs, and compare your insurer every year before late November.

Related articles

• Swiss health insurance premiums 2026: how to save
• TARDOC 2026: reading the medical bill
• Cost brake Swiss healthcare 2026
• Basic health insurance: what KVG covers

Official sources

• FOPH, Federal Council approves LOA V
• pharmaSuisse, LOA V tariff contract
• FOPH, Specialities List EMT
• FOPH, Medication prices FAQ
• prio.swiss, LOA V press release