The motion was put forward by parliamentarian Philippe Nantermod from the centre-right Radical Liberal party. The motion called for five treatment approaches – acupuncture, homeopathy, phytotherapy, anthroposophic medicine and the pharmacotherapy of traditional Chinese medicine – to no longer be covered by basic health insurance.

They should become an optional benefit, as is the case today with accidents, according to Nantermod. Such a change would run counter to the will of the population, which voted in 2009 in favour of coverage under basic insurance, said Hannes Germann from the right-wing Swiss People’s party, speaking on behalf of the committee.

Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider agreed with the vote and said that the savings generated by ending coverage would not be very large.