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General information

Latest international publications

Statistical data used

Key facts and figures

Additional national statistics

Office(s) in charge of data collection

Overview of main stakeholders

Overview of policies

Specific sources

Disclaimer

General information

COUNTRY: Sweden
KNOWLEDGE BROKER: Hans Wineberg, Secretary general, the Leading Health Care Foundation, Sweden

SEPEN thanks the knowledge brokers for their contribution in checking and completing the country-information. SEPEN is accountable for the content of the country profiles.

Latest international publications

Statistical data used

Type of information Source Year Remarks
Table 1: Health workforce stock and replacement OECD 2017 Age characteristics of the nursing stock are not reported.
Figure 1: Mobility level in absolute numbers OECD 2018 Only immigration data for OECD countries are available. The data produced are therefore incomplete. Not all OECD-countries register the country of origin of incoming health professionals and some do not register incoming health professionals at all. Emigration data are based on immigration numbers in other OECD-countries, as emigration as such is not registered nor reported.
Figure 2a: Number of practicing physicians per 1000 inhabitants Eurostat 2017 Figure 2a presents regional distribution of physicians. Maps are formatted according to the NUTS classification obtained from Eurostat or recent national data provided by the key country informants. The national average is derived from the OECD/Eurostat databases, and the EU average from the “Health at a Glance: Europe” report published in November 2020.
Figure 2b: Number of practicing nurses and midwives per 1000 inhabitants  Eurostat 2014 Figure 2b presents regional distrubution of nursing and midwifery. Maps are formatted according to the NUTS classification obtained from Eurostat or recent national data provided by the key country informants. The national average is derived from the OECD/Eurostat databases, and the EU average from the “Health at a Glance: Europe” report published in November 2020.

Key facts and figures

OECD and Eurostat statistics

Statistic Number Data Year
Total population 10 230 185 2019
Life expectancy at birth 82,6 2018

Source: Eurostat

  Licensed to practice Practising Professionally active  
Statistic Number Per 1000 inhabitants Number Per 1000 inhabitants Number Per 1000 inhabitants Data year
Physicians 67 148 6,68 42 898 4,27 45 058 4,48 2017
> Generalist Medical Practitioner Not reported Not reported 6 411 0,64 Not reported Not reported 2017
> Specialist Medical Practitioner Not reported Not reported 22 669 2,25 Not reported Not reported 2017
Nurses 199 795 19,86 109 463 10,88 115 499 11,48 2017
Midwives 12 467 1,24 7 577 0,75 7 931 0,79 2017
Dentists 17 577 1,75 8 173 0,81 8 632 0,86 2017
Pharmacists 15 078 1,50 7 689 0,76 8 369 0,83 2017
Physiotherapists Not reported Not reported 13 594 1,35 Not reported Not reported 2017

Source: OECD

Additional national statistics

Not reported

Office(s) in charge of data collection

Name Role Website
Authorisation data registry on all health care personnel
University and College register https://www.statista.com/statistics/533601/sweden-number-of-registered-students/
Longitudinal employment data from National statistical agency Since 1990

includes all individuals 16 years of age and older that were registered in Sweden as of December 31 for each year.

https://www.scb.se/LISA/
Statistics Sweden Official statistics https://www.scb.se/
The Swedish Data Protection Authority Protect the individual’s privacy in the information society. https://www.datainspektionen.se/

Overview of main stakeholders

Name Role Website
Ministry of Health and Social Affairs Legislation https://www.regeringen.se/
National Board of Health and Welfare  Supervision https://www.government.se/government-agencies/national-board-of-health-and-welfare–socialstyrelsen/
Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR): 

  • 21 county councils
  • 7 university hospitals in 6 medical care regions
  • Approx 70 county councils – driven hospitals and 6 private hospitals
  • approx 1,100 public and private primary care facilities
  • public and private dentists
  • 290 municipalities 

are responsible for care of the elderly and the disabled.

Responsible for financing and delivering health services to citizens. https://skr.se/

Public representatives

Name Role Website
Ministry of Health and Social Affairs The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs is responsible for overall health and health care policy, working in concert with eight national government agencies.

Areas:

  • Disabilities
  • Public health and medical care
  • Social insurance
  • Social services including care for older people
https://www.regeringen.se/
National Board of Health and Welfare  Supervises all healthcare personnel, disseminates information, develops norms and standards for medical care, and, through data collection and analysis, ensures that those norms and standards are met. https://www.socialstyrelsen.se/
Swedish eHealth Agency
  • Information-sharing among health and social care professionals and decision-makers.
  • Stores and transfers electronic prescriptions issued in Sweden and is responsible for transferring electronic prescriptions abroad.
  • Responsible for statistics on drugs and pharmaceutical sales.
https://www.ehalsomyndigheten.se/
Health and Social Care Inspectorate Responsible for supervising health care, social services, and activities concerning support and services for people with disabilities. It is also responsible for issuing permits in those areas. https://www.ivo.se/for-privatpersoner/
Swedish Agency for Health and Care Services Analysis  Analyzes and evaluates health policy and the availability of healthcare information to citizens and patients. https://www.vardanalys.se/
Public Health Agency Provides evidence-based knowledge regarding infectious disease control and public health, including health technology assessment. https://www.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/
Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency
  • Determine whether a pharmaceutical product, medical device or dental care procedure shall be subsidized by the state.
  • Determine retail margins for all pharmacies
  • supervise of the pharmaceutical market.
https://www.tlv.se/
Medical Products Agency
  • regulation and surveillance of the development
  • manufacturing and sale of medicinal products
  • access safe and effective medicinal products
https://www.lakemedelsverket.se

Health profession representatives

Name Role Website
Swedish Medical Association Development of healthcare https://slf.se/
Swedish Society of Nursing Clinical, educational, scientific and ethical discussions and decisions regarding nursing. https://www.swenurse.se/

Academic representatives

Name Role Website
Medical universities and faculties   Undergraduate and postgraduate education and research Karolinska Institute, Medical University – Stockholm

https://ki.se/

Lund University, Faculty of medicine – Lund

https://www.medicin.lu.se/

Uppsala University, Department of Medical Science – Uppsala

https://www.medsci.uu.se/

University of Guthenburg

https://sahlgrenska.gu.se/

Örebro University

https://www.oru.se/english/schools/medical-sciences/study/programme-in-medicine-330-credits/

Malmö University, Faculty of Odontology – Malmö

https://mau.se/

Malmö Iniversity, faculty of Health and Society – Malmö

https://mau.se/om-oss/fakulteter-och-institutioner/halsa-och-samhalle/fakulteten-for-halsa-och-samhalle/

Overview of policies

Manage shortages and maldistribution of skills

Original name Patientlagen och Smittskyddslagen
Name in English Patient act and Diseases Act
Short description In order to create safe and secure care the health and social care service is governed by laws and regulations.
Publication date  N/A
Link to full text https://www.1177.se/Stockholm/sa-fungerar-varden/lagar-och-bestammelser/lagar-i-varden/

 

Original name Hälso- och sjukvårdslag
Name in English Health and Medical Services Act
Short description The Act requires the county councils to promote the health of their residents and to

ensure equal access to health care.

Publication date 1982
Link to full text https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/halso–och-sjukvardslag-1982763_sfs-1982-763

Improving performance

Original name Hälso- och sjukvårdslag
Name in Elglish Health and Medical Services Act
Short description Requirements for healthcare Section 2a

Ensure equal access to health care.

County councils are responsible for ensuring that health care providers deliver services of high quality. Quality targets—those associated with a pay-for-performance scheme or tied to requirements for accreditation and its continuance.

Publication date 1982
Link to full text https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/halso–och-sjukvardslag-1982763_sfs-1982-763

Address outflow mobility

Not reported

Education, enrolment and recruitment

Original name
Name in English Medical curriculum reform
Short description Involve students in more active and multidisciplinary learning and

to better integrate basic science and clinical experiences.

Publication date 2011
Link to full text https://portal.research.lu.se/portal/files/1687975/2540400.pdf

Education staff & infrastructure

Original name Upp och analyserar utvecklingen och trender
Name in English Quality of higher education and research
Short description SNAHE 2007 a large nationwide evaluation within medicine and health care. Result:

  • the educational facilities are of high quality and the students have excellent access to libraries, study facilities and information and communication technologies.
  • The formal education and academic level tf teachers and supervisors in clinical practise is high and adequate.
  • all programmes are firmly research based.
  • the clinical departments and general practises are open for students

From 2013 Large parts of the Swedish National Agency’s previous operations ended up at the University Chancellor’s Office( UKÄ).

Publication date  N/A
Link to full text https://www.uka.se/

Continuous professional development (CPD)

Original name Ledningssystem för kvalitet och patientsäkerhet i hälso- och sjukvården
Name in English Management system for quality and patient safety in medical care and healthcare
Short description CPD includes competency within subject areas such as medical knowledge,  leadership/ management, communication, scientific ethics, IT etc.
Publication date 2005
Link to full text https://plus.rjl.se/info_files/infosida39803/SOSFS_2005_12.pdf Capter4 3 §

Regulation of private sector

Original name  Hälso- och sjukvårdslag
Name (best effort translation) Health and Medical Services Act
Short description The Health and Medical Services Act is what is known as a framework act and contains fundamental rules for all health and social care.

The regional councils to buy services from private healthcare providers. In 2018, 13.5 per cent of healthcare was financed by regional councils but carried out by private care providers. An agreement guarantees that patients are covered by the same regulations and fees that apply to municipal care facilities.

Publication date  N/A
Link to full text https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/halso–och-sjukvardslag-1982763_sfs-1982-763

Working conditions

Original name Lag om anställningsskydd
Name in English Employment Protection Act
Short description Embodies regulations that protect you in your rofessional role.
Publication date 1982
Link to full text https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/lag-198280-om-anstallningsskydd_sfs-1982-80

Others

Not reported

Specific sources

List of sources specific to this country:

 

Last updated: 10 October 2020

Disclaimer

The country fiches are produced under the EU Health Programme 2014-2020 under a service contract with the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (Chafea) acting under the mandate from the European Commission. The information and views set out in the country sheets are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Commission/Executive Agency. The Commission/Executive Agency does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this study.

Neither the Commission/Executive Agency nor any person acting on the Commission’s/Executive Agency’s behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.