November 1st to 30th - Quit smoking; Hundreds of medications become cheaper; Central bank’s new banknote competition

News for 5 November 2024

You don’t have to wait to give up this habit, (the sooner the better), but November is earmarked in Switzerland as a “Month Without Tobacco," so it is a good time to quit once and for all.

The national online campaign, promoted by the Tobacco Prevention Fund, aims to “offer a tool to help the many people who wish to free themselves from cigarettes".

In Switzerland, 27 percent of the population smoke, exposing themselves to the higher risk of respiratory and cardiovascular problems, among other medical conditions.

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After learning that Switzerland will experience massive shortages of medications this winter, we now get a more positive piece of news: prices will be slashed on some drugs currently on the market.

That’s because each year at about this time, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) adjusts the prices of some medicines sold in Switzerland.

Of those analysed in 2024, 55 percent will see their price drop, FOPH announced in a press release on Thursday. 

Included are drugs that treat skin conditions as well as diseases of the nervous system and blood.

"On the basis of the price reductions decided for December 1st, 2024, the FOPH is counting on savings of at least 90 million francs," the Office said.

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The Swiss National Bank (SNB) wants to develop a new banknote series and is inviting the population to participate in a design competition.

The theme of the new series will be "Switzerland and its altitudes.”

Specifically, the 10-franc note will be dedicated the lowlands, for the 20-franc note it will be the Central Plateau, for the 50-franc note the Jura, and for the 100-franc note the foothills of the Alps. The 200-franc note will focus on the mountains, and the 1000-franc note on the high mountains.

The competition will be held from February to July 2025, with the winner(s) to be announced in autumn of 2026.

The first banknotes will be issued  from 2030, the SNB said.